Antonio Sanchez-Corea

Antonio Sanchez-Corea

Antonio (Tony)Sanchez-Corea passed away peacefully January 8, 2018 after a short and fierce battle with cancer.

He was a true son of San Francisco, not only by birth and heritage, but in his pioneering spirit and enterprising approach to all aspects of his life –most importantly to his family, to his professional life, to his philanthropic endeavors, and to his faith. He was ingenious and creative, and known around the world for his generosity and hospitality.

Antonio was an entrepreneur and an inventor. In the early 1960s he harnessed the talents of engineers and architects, helping them to apply fast-developing computer technologies to the field of Building Security and Life Safety. He formed CORMAC, his first business, in 1964.This was followed by LSS Controls, and later A.R.Sanchez-Corea and Associates (ARS). ARS was founded in 1981 as a Building Code and Permit Consultancy. He was known throughout the industry for his honesty and integrity. ARS has been part of the most challenging and demanding building projects in the Bay Area, from historic restoration works at the Palace Hotel to the skyline-altering Salesforce Tower.

He became Chairman of ARS and Associates in 2004, and proudly passed the running of the business to his son, Tony, when he was elected to the Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta. He reluctantly moved away from his City to Rome, to serve in the government of the Order of Malta and assist in its 900 year tradition of global humanitarian work. Prior to his election, he served the sick and poor in California and the Western states through the Order of Malta for over 40 years. He was invested as a Knight in 1988 and served the Western Association as Hospitaller and Chancellor, as well as the Lourdes Pilgrimage Director. This was by far his favorite activity in the Order: traveling to Lourdes 26 times, bringing with him the sick, tired and bereft into the care and comfort of Our Lady of Lourdes.

He ended his years of service in the Order of Malta with the rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion.

Antonio came to the Order of Malta through his work and devotion to The Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Anne's Home in San Francisco. Impressed by the love and dignity with which the Sisters work, he embraced their mission, recruiting scores of family and friends to help care for their residents.

Tony contributed his skills and knowledge to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, providing counsel and support for building projects and leadership in raising funds, and serving as a Regent of the Cathedral. From Archbishops Quinn, Levada, Niederauer to Archbishop Cordeleone he was proud to serve the Church and to love and be loved by those priests and friends. He took up their challenge to recruit vocations, focusing his talents on improving St Patrick's Seminary, where he served for many years as a Regent.

His creative solutions stretched across the Golden Gate and the Bay bridges and down the Peninsula, most recently manifest in the establishment of the Oakland Health and Law Clinic at the Oakland Cathedral, serving undocumented people and those without medical insurance.

As testament to his true native status, Tony was known for his legendary parties. Whether it was a family dinner at home or a great ballroom affair, his feasts always included delicious and sumptuous food and drink and magnificent music for dancing. He was a marvel on the dance floor, defying the laws of gravity whisked around the tiles of Pacific Heights and North Beach to makeshift bandstands in gymnasiums and basements west of Twin Peaks.

His love, charm and charisma were deployed in the service of friends and strangers in distress – or to secure the front window table at Perry's, as the case required.

Antonio was the son of Dr. Antonio and Helen Sanchez-Corea and son-in-law of Louis and Cecilia Compagno.He attended St Monica's Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Preparatory and San Francisco State University.

He is survived by his beloved Lucille (nee Compagno) wife of over 60 years; his daughter Laura and son-in-law Douglas Hosking; his daughter Lisa and son-in-law Justin Simpson; his son Antonio III (Tony) and daughter-in-law Karen (nee Klemenok); his sister Marilyn Knight and brother Marc Sanchez-Corea, and by seven grandchildren: Douglas, Katherine and Andrew Hosking; Lucia and Dexter Simpson; and Gabriella and Olivia Sanchez-Corea.

Friends may visit from 9:00am, Friday, January 12th at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 1111 - Gough St.(at Geary Blvd.), San Francisco where a rosary and eulogy will begin at 9:30am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am. A reception will follow. Private family interment Saturday, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to The Little Sisters of the Poor (300 Lake Street, S.F. CA 94118); St Patrick's Seminary (320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025) or to the Order of Malta's Global Fund for Forgotten People (3705 Leland Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20815).