Anthony "Tony" Fatone

East Lyme - Anthony Fatone, 88, of Niantic, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2015.

Antonio "Tony" was born Sept. 10, 1926, in Terlizzi, Bari, Italy, the son of Concetta (Vendola) Fatone and Gaetano Fatone. As an eight year old in 1935, he immigrated with his family to the United States, settling in Norwich, where he attended elementary school. At age 17, Anthony joined the U.S. Navy, serving in Pensacola, Fla., where he trained World War II cadet pilots and serviced airplanes. After honorable discharge from the Navy, Anthony attended Norwich Free Academy, graduating in 1949.

At NFA, he met Betty Marie Rose, who he married in 1950. He went on to graduate from Mitchell College in New London then earned a master's degree from Willimantic State Teacher's College (now Eastern Connecticut State University). He taught elementary and junior high school in Preston, Norwich, Lyme, and Old Lyme, until retiring in 1984. Anthony also taught swimming to children at the Norwich YMCA during the school year and at Gardner Lake in Salem during summer day camp, a task he truly loved. Throughout his teaching career, on Saturdays and during the summers, Anthony worked with his brother Vito at Fatone Bros. Groceria in Niantic, until the establishment closed in the mid-1980s. Following retirement, he worked for Habitat for Humanity, volunteered as an English language tutor, and was involved with church activities at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme where he was a member.

Anthony was a man of integrity, humility, generosity, humor, and compassion. He was a beloved teacher, husband, father, and brother devoted to his siblings and his nieces and nephews. He was intensely musical, loved the ocean, and loved to laugh.

The Fatone family is grateful to the staff of Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center in Niantic and to the Center for Hospice Care for their loving care of Anthony during his illness.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty (Rose) Fatone; two daughters, Lisa Rose Fatone of Westbrook and Gina Andrea Fatone of Lewiston, Maine; two brothers, Vito Fatone of Niantic and Gaetano "George" Fatone of Preston; a sister, Mary Frink of Thompson; and a grandson, John-Antonio Fatone.

He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Fatone and a sister, Angelina Popham.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. The funeral service at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, followed by a reception, will be held at the First Congregation Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Maplewood Cemetery, Norwich.

To send the family an online condolence, please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com