Anthony E. Durham

Anthony E. Durham

Anthony E. Durham, 64, of Ottawa Hills, died October 4 in Ebeid Hospice.

Just 20 days earlier, he was stunned to learn that a suspected rotator cuff injury was in fact Stage 4 metastatic cancer. His decline was breathtakingly swift; thanks to hospice, his death was a peaceful mercy.

Tony was born in Portsmouth, Ohio to Margaret and Clinton Durham. Like many from that Appalachian region after WWII, his father came north seeking factory work, settling his family in Waterville. At Anthony Wayne High School, Tony was a standout athlete -- basketball, football, and baseball -- and was elected in 2012 to the Hall of Fame. He credited sports with developing his dogged work ethic and team-player mentality, two qualities that influenced his actions and attitude in every area of his life.

The grandson of an illiterate coal miner, he was proud to have earned his way through Bowling Green State University with summer factory jobs, becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree.

Tony was employed by The Blade for 42 years, working his way up to News Editor, in charge of the copy desk/production operation. He enjoyed the nightly challenge and pace of his work. He also cared a great deal about the people in his department (which he jokingly called the "island of misfit toys"), and strived to create a workplace environment of camaraderie and accountability for accuracy.

He and his wife, retired Blade columnist Roberta de Boer, met in the newsroom and married in 1986. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was his heart's delight. He was a spectacular father -- patient, kind, loving, encouraging. He did more than his share of diaper changing, field-trip chaperoning, sideline cheering, and driveway hoops shooting, demonstrating daily to her all that fatherhood was.

As a husband, Tony was heroic. His emotionally generous and affable nature went a long way in sustaining his 37-year marriage. In the end (and damn that there is an end), Tony and Roberta believed their marriage worked so well for so long simply because they always, always, always had a lot of fun.

With a gentle demeanor and quiet leadership, Tony was the calm in any storm, whether at work or home. Unruffled, unfazed, steadfast and a doer, he seldom complained.

It took so little to make Tony happy. Looking forward to his retirement, he and Roberta planned to travel often, spend more time at their Lakeside, Ohio, cottage, noodle around the kitchen together, see friends more often, and enjoy uninterrupted time walking their dog along the horse trails in Oak Openings Metropark. Tony was not particularly acquisitive, drove his cars until they gasped their last, and, despite his wife's pleas, continued to wear sweaters with holey elbows. His wife, who liked and loved him like crazy, will now sleep in those tattered sweaters.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Gary. He is survived by his wife, Roberta; his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth Durham and James Kerson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; sister and brother-in-law, Malissa and Dennis Lambert, of Engadine, Michigan, and his beloved Nico, world's sweetest dog.

There'll be an informal memorial gathering October 21, Saturday, from 1-3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, upstairs in My Brother's Place.

Contributions may be made to the Anthony Durham Scholarship Fund at BGSU, created in his honor several years ago by his daughter and son-in-law, offering scholarships to first-generation female students.

Tony's family would like to thank emergency medicine specialist Dr. Michael Mattin, for compassionately delivering a no-nonsense cancer diagnosis; Dr. Jeffrey Forquer, radiation oncologist and uncommonly humane clinician; physician friends, Dr. Michael Nagel and Dr. Pam Oatis, for help guiding our family, and treasured friends, Robin Erb and Larry Vellequette, Chip and Sandi Towns, Shelly Orenstein, Kyle Cubbon, and Patty Wise.