Anthony Thomas DeFilippis

1970 - 2022

On February 4, 2022, Anthony Thomas DeFilippis died in his Ft. Lauderdale, FL home at the age of 51.

Anthony was born July 30, 1970, in the Bronx, NY. He spent his early childhood growing up in the family home on Laconia Ave with his parents, Marie and Tony, and his Papa Mike and Nana Anna. As a child, Anthony was the apple of the family's eye. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his God Parents Tom and Helen Mahon doted on him. He loved fishing off his dad's boat and playing with the neighborhood kids (always under his mother's watchful eye).

In 1982, the family moved to Somers, NY. Ant, or Flip as many called him, was a lifeguard and athlete excelling in football, baseball, and wrestling. One high school friend said, "He was the nicest kid in school. Everyone loved Flip!"

Anthony continued his passion for sports at Syracuse University where he played baseball, wrestled, and graduated in 1993 with a degree in Mathematics. After college, Anthony moved to Florida to begin his career in the financial industry.

Over the course of his years in Florida, Ant managed and played baseball on several teams, played kickball, skied, and traveled extensively. He formed a family of friends who loved him and whom he adored. Throughout his life, Anthony was human to many dogs: Frisky, Tootsie, Heidi, Roxie, Kona, Nya, Zuri, and Orso. His dear friend Jon Simon noted he was the best dog owner ever because he treated them as his equal.

Jon said of Anthony, "You were intelligent, well-read, thoughtful, generous, sincere. You remembered a person's name, their story. You genuinely listened to what they had to say which is rare nowadays."

Anthony was preceded in death by his parents, Marie (Mahon) DeFilippis and Anthony Pasqual DeFilippis. He is survived by his uncle and aunt, Fred and Sandy DeFilippis as well as by several cousins and their families: Jim DeFilippis, Nancy DeFilippis, Bill DeFilippis, Michael DeFilippis, Claudia (Mahon), and Ivan Vázquez and their children, Jose, Chris, Jackie, and Billy, Peter DeFilippis, and Nicole (DeFilippis) DeFalco. Other family members mourning his loss include Iris, Charlie, Randi, Andrew, and Philip Laufman and their families as well as Nancy Yacoub-DeFilippis, Corinne and Briana DeFilippis, and Evone and Ishak Yacoub.

Anthony's family of friends will be hosting a celebration of his life at Gulf Stream Brewery – a place you could find Ant with a smile on his face, a kind word on his lips, and a couple of dogs at his feet.

Gulf Stream Brewery

1105 NE 13th Street Ft. Lauderdale, FL

March 6, 2022, @7pm

Anthony's remains will be laid to rest with his parents in Somers, NY. Details of the church service and burial ceremony will be posted on his Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, the perfect tribute to Anthony's lifelong passion for four-legged friends would be to donate to your local dog rescue or the ASPCA. Or maybe just toss a ball around with a friend and listen to their stories.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal." Irish Proverb