Anthony "Tony" DiBartolomeo Jr.

1952 - 2024

Methuen: Anthony J. "Tony" DiBartolomeo, Jr., 72, of Methuen, died October 16, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, following an almost 2-year battle with CNS lymphoma of the brain. Born in Haverhill, Tony was the son of the late Antonio J. and Angelina (Nilio) DiBartolomeo. He attended Haverhill Public Schools, graduating Haverhill High School with the Class of 1971. Tony went on to receive his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1976 and later his Master of Music in Conducting degree from the University of Houston, TX, in 1977. He was a conducting student of William Revelli, University of Michigan, and Craig Kirckkoff, Ohio State University. He could play all instruments, though his emphasis was in woodwinds. Tony began his music education career as the Band Director at J. Frank Dobie High School in Pasadena, TX. After several years he was hired at Ashland College in Ashland, OH, followed by (then) Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, MO, and Republic High School, MO, all as the Director of Bands. Since 1987, Tony has been the Director of Music for Timberlane Regional School District in Plaistow, NH. In 2002, upon completion of the new Timberlane Performing Arts Center, for which he was essential in successfully getting built, he became its Director. This April, 2024, Tony was honored in a ceremony dedicating the auditorium to his name. He was founder and director of the Timberlane Community Band and Jazz Band and often had others conduct so he could play bass or woodwinds alongside the other performers, especially his students. He also enjoyed playing in a Polka Band at UMass and other combos wherever he lived. In NH he led the Tony D. Big Band and Dixieland Band, and was a member of the Seacoast Jazz Ensemble. In 2000, Tony was awarded the "Outstanding Band Director of the Year" by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association. He served on the Executive Board of the NH Music Educators Association where he acted as All State Audition Chairperson for many years and was Band Manager of the Music Educator National Conference for 2001. Tony was recognized as the "2013 Distinguished New Hampshire Music Educator of the Year". For ten years, he was the Executive Director of the New England Ambassadors of Music for which he recruited and directed over 100 music students from around New England for a sixteen-day performing tour through seven countries in Europe. Tony met his wife, Eileen (Butler from Clinton, MA) at UMass. He had a passion for languages, specifically Italian and German, and using them while traveling be it by land or sea. The result was many great experiences all over the world. With Eileen, he enjoyed a number of cruises, some with his son, Anthony, as he was a musician for Crystal and Cunard ships. Tony was thrilled to have been invited to perform with Anthony on the QE2 when a sax player became ill. Summer vacations were planned every year as a complete family for many US and Europe trips. While both his son, Andrew, and daughter, Angela, were living in Asia, they had the opportunity to visit China and walk on the Great Wall, tour Guangzhou, Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau, and to make several trips to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Always intrigued by his heritage, he and Eileen visited Italy including his father's birth village of San Sebastiáno, L'Aquila Provence. In the fall of 2022, Tony and Eileen went to Munich, Germany's, Oktoberfest followed by touring Germany and ending with a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam with his brother and sister-in-law. In addition to music, travel, and languages, Tony loved to garden and cook great Italian dinners for family and friends. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of forty-four years, Eileen M. DiBartolomeo, a daughter, Angela M. DiBartolomeo of Methuen, MA, two sons, Anthony J. DiBartolomeo III, of Bradford, MA, and Andrew W. DiBartolomeo of Los Angeles, CA, his brother Carmine "Sonny" DiBartolomeo of Dallas, OR, and his sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Hector Grazio of Groveland, MA, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family and friends are invited to Tony's Celebration of Life and reception to be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024, from 3 to 7 pm at the Atkinson Country Club, Country Club Lane, Atkinson, NH. Arrangements are under the direction of Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, Main St., Plaistow, NH. To send a message of condolence to the family, visit brooksidechapelfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial donation be made to the "Anthony J. DiBartolomeo Scholarship Fund" for Timberlane Regional High School seniors or to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Memorial donations for the scholarship fund for Timberlane Regional High School seniors can be made online by clicking this link https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/checkout/getproduct?clientKey=ZZH54DK2B3082R8&buttonID=33f8b7d8-2b2a-4276-8ad7-f43f4aae7c08 or checks, made payable to "Plaistow Trustees of theTrust", can be mailed to Anthony DiBartolomeo Scholarship Fund, c/o Timberlane Regional High School, 36 Greenough Road, Plaistow, NH 03865. Please write on the memo line of the check "Anthony DiBartolomeo Scholarship". Donations to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute may be made online by clicking this link https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2100&mfc_pref=T&2100.donation=form1&utm_source=dfh&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign =AGDFH110123&s_src=AGDFH110123&s_subsrc=AGDFH110123.