Antonio M. "Tony" Fontana

Antonio M. "Tony" Fontana Tony Fontana passed away on February, 25, 201,0 in Tallahassee, FL. He was born on June 4, 1924, in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Providence and attended the University of North Carolina, Williams College and Mount St. Mary's College. He joined the U.S. Navy in December 1942. At the end of World War II he moved to Miami, FL and joined the City of Miami Police Department and served for many years in the Homicide Division. While a member of the police department, he became a member of the Miami Police Benevolent Association, and was elected State President of the Fraternal Order of Police. In 1972, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He was the first law' enforcement officer in the state of Florida that served as a legislator and a police officer at the same time. He retired in 1975, as a Lieutenant. He served in the Florida House of Representatives for ten years, representing the Hialeah District. During that time he was instrumental in the passing of the Policeman's Bill of Rights and the creation of the Police Standards and Training Commission. In 1981, he was appointed by Governor Bob Graham to the Florida Parole Commission where he served for nine years. Four of those years he served as the Chairman of the Parole Commission, He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Miami Lodge 20; the Miami Police Benevolent Association; the Tree ofltaly Society; the Hialeah Committee of 100; the Governor's Police Task Force; the Masons, the Marzuq Shrine Temple in Tallahassee, and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was also Past President of the Miami Tiger Bay Club. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother, his wife, Pat and daughter, Toni Lee. He is survived by his daughter, Glenda Rackley (Tom) of Tequesta, FL; granddaughter, Ronalee Turner; grandsons, Thomas Glenn, Scott and Pete Rackley; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Providence, RI. He leaves behind cherished friends and caregivers in Tallahassee, Bob Reynolds, Linda Yon, Jim, RuthArme, and Margie Reese, Aneeta Hill, as well as his devoted hospice caretakers Sally Smith and Joanne Richmond. He is a member of the Baptist faith and was a long time member of the Allapattah Baptist Church in Miami, FL. Visitation will be held at Beggs Funeral Home at 3322 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL from 2 until 4 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 28, 2010. Memorial service and burial will be on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 1 p.m. EST at Vista Memorial Gardens, 14200 NW 57th Ave. Miami Lakes, FL 33014. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee, FL. 32308, or Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital, Marzuq Temple, PO Box 37130, Tallahassee, FL 32315.