Anthony Fazio

1931 - 2017

Anthony Fazio, age 85, passed peacefully in Coronado, California, on March 7, 2017. Anthony was born in Syracuse, New York, on April 14, 1931. He was the second child to Lorenzo Fazio and Maria Iacampo, immigrants from Italy. His life was one spent embodying the virtues of hard work, perseverance, and determination. As an adolescent, he was an active member of the American Eagles Boy's Club, where he made life-long friends. As a youth, he attended Prescott Grade School. Anthony graduated from North High in Syracuse, where he was an All-City guard on the football team. During his undergraduate years at Syracuse University, Anthony was a walk-on to the Syracuse football team.
Despite being orphaned at age 5, his life demonstrated tenacity and grace to his kids and grandchildren. Moreover, the importance of hard work, perseverance, determination and that nothing is out of your reach or impossible. To pay for college, Anthony worked as a city bus driver and dishwasher. Upon graduation, Anthony enrolled at Syracuse Law School, where he graduated in 1956.
Anthony practiced law in Syracuse for over 35 years, both in private practice and for Niagara Mohawk (National Grid), where he experienced numerous successes as an attorney, including arguing before the New York Supreme Court. Anthony's compassion for those less fortunate was a mainstay throughout his life, and he was an active supporter of the rescue missions and numerous other charities. He and his wife, Joan, were devout Christians and founding members of Evangel Assembly of God Church in Chittenango, New York, where he served as a Board Member and Treasurer. Anthony and his family were long-standing residents of Liverpool, Syracuse, and Cazenovia, New York. Anthony loved fishing, bird-watching, opera, and classical music. He also found the greatest joy in spending time with his grandchildren as well as travel and a good Italian meal. Before Anthony's wife passed in 2009, he exhibited a tireless love and devotion - visiting at her bedside daily for over two years.
Anthony was pre-deceased by his wife of 56 years, Joan Gilbert Fazio, who passed in 2009, and his brother Carmen Fazio in 1997. He is survived by his daughters Marybeth Mendez and Louise Robinson; sons Anthony, Garth and Roy; grandchildren Jesse, Josiah, and James Mendez; Ryan and Brandon Robinson; Jacob, Alexis and Dominic Fazio; and Lee and Adam Fazio; and great-grandchildren; Noah, Ava and Lucas Mendez; and Sophia and Wesley Robinson.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, April 29th, 2017 at Oakwood Cemetery at 10:30 a.m., in Syracuse, New York. Please contact Marybeth Mendez at 520-977-3112 for further memorial service information.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of Anthony Fazio to the Samaritan Center (samcenter.org) in Syracuse, NY.

Date of Death: March 7, 2017