Anthony G. "Tony" Pilla

Anthony G. Pilla of Forest Hills, NY, formerly of Wallingford CT, passed away on May 9, 2025, following a brief illness. He was born in Wallingford, CT on March 9, 1933, the son of the late Guy T. Pilla Sr. and Lillian (Gerace) Pilla. Anthony aka Tony was educated in local schools and graduated from Lyman Hall High School in 1952. Continuing his education, he enrolled at the Teachers College of Connecticut and completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in June 1955. In the fall of 1955, his first classroom was Lincoln Junior High School, in Meriden, CT. On February 12, 1957, he was drafted into the U. S. Army. He was shipped overseas and served with the Military Police at an Army Ordinance Depot in France. His service was cut short by a Presidential directive due to a severe teacher shortage caused by the beginnings of the Boomer generation. He finished the rest of his enlistment in the reserves and was honorably discharged in 1963. Upon his return, Tony enrolled at the University of Connecticut at Storrs and satisfied the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in June of 1961. Although, he was almost expelled from the school for his "leadership" in a panty raid on a female dormitory. Only the intervention of then Governor of Connecticut, Abraham Ribicoff, saved the day. After this educational accolade, he relocated to Forest Hills, N.Y., where he taught social studies at Plainview High School for the next 35 years. His crowning achievement was being appointed the first coordinator for an alternative High School program. Tony was still receiving kind correspondence from these students many years later. Tony was also a staunch democrat and in his early years was active in campaigning for several notable candidates of the day. At one point, he was Vice President for all the Young Democrat Clubs of Connecticut, and he also was appointed the youngest Justice of the Peace. While living in Forest Hills, he was published over 400 times in the editorial section of the local paper for his views on politics. In 1958, Tony was the Housing Commissioner for the town of Wallingford and was influential in the relocation of the then under construction I-91 North to the east. The proposed and approved route would have gone through a veterans housing area and the Choate school campus. It added $5 million to the project and was known as the Pilla curve for a few years after. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling and loved to play at the NV and NJ casinos. He loved to play the slots. Ever the teacher, he also imparted words of wisdom, "If you ask a gambler how they are doing, and they say they are up, they are lying". However, at the same time, he would fondly tell you of his big hit at the Trump Plaza for $29,000! He also had an underlying entrepreneurial spirit, e.g. a boardgame called Hurricane to teach about insurance and narrated a series of political documentaries released by Folkway Records; White House or Bust and Hail to the Chief. In his last endeavor, he self-published several coffee table style books, starting with Wave Mexicana in 2008. Uncle Tony or the Monster (because of his height) will be remembered by his nieces and nephews for letting us ride on his feet, his geographical quizzes, and for the huge snowstorms (read blizzards) that happened whenever he came from New York in the winter. Tony was predeceased by his parents and his only sibling, Guy T. Pilla Jr. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to mention. A private burial will take place in St. Johns Cemetery, Wallingford at a later date. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Anthony "Tony", please visit our floral store.