Anthony George Aloisio

1927 - 2023

Anthony George Aloisio

December 21, 1927 - December 30, 2023

Spanaway, Washington - It is with honor, the Aloisio family announces their patriarch, Anthony "Tony" Aloisio, completed his race. Tony passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones Dec. 30, 2023. He was 96.

Born into a typical Italian American family Dec. 21, 1927, in his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, Tony was third of six children born to Nichola and Anna (Somma) Aloisio.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Tony's strong work ethic developed at a young age. Starting at age 11, Tony caught the Hudson River taxi to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan to shine shoes. At 15 he was making 17 ½ cents an hour at Swift & Company, and at 18 was drafted into the Army at the end of World War II in 1945. Being drafted likely saved his life, preventing him from living a life of crime (so Tony said).

As a young military police officer in Japan, Tony would wave-and salute-Gen. Douglas MacArthur through the gate. Looking to advance in his military career, Tony went into the infantry/artillery and was attached to one of the first Army outfits to enter Pusan, South Korea, to assist the Marines during the Korean War. Tony received three Purple Hearts from injuries sustained during the year he served in Korea.

Home from the war in 1951, a cousin encouraged Tony to join him on a blind date with a young aspiring nurse from Pendleton, Oregon. It was love at first sight for the Italian city boy and West Coast farm girl, and after a two-week courtship, Tony and Lavelle married in 1952 in Bel Air, Maryland. While not Italian, Lavelle passed the Catholic test with her in-laws.

Before shipping out to Germany, the newlyweds drove west to introduce Tony to Lavelle's family. Dressed smart in his Army uniform, the city boy was handed a shotgun by his father-in-law and told to join in on a pheasant hunt, to which Tony turned to his bride and asked what a pheasant was. When an airplane flew overhead, Lavelle's brother, Bob, yelled it was the game warden and to hit the ground, to which Tony obediently went face down in his clean uniform and everyone had a good laugh.

The Aloisios were stationed in Germany (where they honeymooned) and the family stayed together-and grew with six kids-throughout Tony's Army career with stops in Kentucky; Fort Lewis, Washington; back to Germany and then to South Carolina, where Tony served as drill instructor during the Vietnam War.

The Master Sergeant retired in March 1967 after honorably serving 21 years. The family packed up the car and headed back to Washington to be close to Lavelle's family and settled in Parkland in 1968.

Tony was an American first and an Italian second. He proudly flew the American flag at his home (even when stationed in Germany) in honor of the country he loved.

After retirement, Tony enjoyed a life of travel, notably to Oahu and visiting his father's village in Italy, spending time at the racetrack, watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren play sports and walking miles every day. He was home every night at 5 p.m. for family dinner.

The life of the party, Tony enjoyed dancing, had a great sense of humor and a giving heart.

Tony and Lavelle were married for 64 years until Lavelle's passing in 2015. Tony is reunited with his bride, dancing to "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner.

Tony is preceded in death by daughter Toni. He is survived by his children Lorena, Gina, Mark (Kim), Edie and Nicki; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He leaves behind brother Alfred Aloisio (Laura), brother-in-law Pete DiLemme, and many nieces and nephews on the West and East Coast.

The Aloisio siblings want to thank our youngest sister, Nicki, for taking such good care of Dad since the passing of Mom.

Memorial is April 26 at 3:00 at Tahoma National Cemetery.