Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
February 14, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to the Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Anthony J. Spina, age 80, of Wayne, passed peacefully into eternal rest on his birthday – Friday, February 14, 2014, with his loving family at his side.
Tony was born in Paterson on February 14, 1934. He was the elder of Anthony (Butch) and Virginia Spina’s two sons. Tony’s mom affectionately referred to him as her Valentine’s baby. He grew up in the Riverside section of Paterson with his younger brother, Jack. As a child, Tony was a little on the small side and was stricken with polio. But being a fighter at heart, he never let those problems hold him back. He even used to tell his children that after his growth spurt he kept a list of kids who had picked on him and then went back to settle the score. Payback was sweet!
Tony attended Eastside High School and tore up the field as an all-state football player. Fueled by his love of the heroic portrayal of the U.S. Marines in the combat films of his youth, he fulfilled his dream and joined the Corps upon graduation. Still only seventeen, he bravely served with honor and distinction in Korea, earning a chest-full of medals, including two Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars, the third highest military decoration for valor, awarded for gallantry in action. They will forever stand as a testament to his bravery and heroism.
The first Purple Heart and Silver Star were awarded after he blew his way into enemy territory with Bangalore Torpedoes allowing his squad to advance. Tony earned the second set after singlehandedly rescuing four wounded buddies, dragging them all to safety under heavy fire, and suffering a severe leg wound. Following six months of treatment aboard a hospital ship, Tony returned to the United States and whipped new recruits into shape as a Drill Sergeant in Quantico, Virginia.
During his time as a Marine, Tony was also a champion boxer, going 44-0 with all but four matches ending in a knockout. Never one to flaunt or brag, when asked the secret to his success in the ring, Tony credited it more to toughness and strength than to skill. He also played for the Marine Corps football team with tough-as-iron grit and determination. Tony was all over the field, playing both offense and defense.
His prowess on the grid-iron earned him a full scholarship to prestigious Muhlenburg University in Allentown, Pennsylvania. But his football career was cut short after tearing his Achilles tendon on the field. He transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting.
Following graduation, Tony went on to enjoy a long and rewarding career. His first accounting job was for West Shore Concrete Construction Company in New York. He later served as a Controller for Merrick Scale Manufacturing Company of Passaic, Mobile Fabrics Inc. of Hawthorne, Moldcast Lighting Division of Pine Brook, and Titan Marble and Stone of Totowa. In 1983 he became the Chief Financial Officer of D.N.S. Metal Industries of Long Island City; and in 1990 he was named CFO of Landmark Fire Protection, Inc. of Pine Brook where he remained until retirement in 2011.
He met his wife Cathy when he interviewed her for a job at West Shore Concrete Construction Company in New York. Cathy was intrigued by his voice during the initial phone interview. She went for subsequent interviews and eventually landed the job, but soon found that while she couldn’t really work for Tony, she certainly could marry him. They exchanged vows before God, family and friends at Morningside Chapel on West Broadway in Paterson on September 16, 1961, only thirteen months after they met, a marriage that has endured for more than fifty-two years. They renewed their vows twice – at their twenty-fifth and fiftieth wedding anniversaries.
Many saw Tony as a bit of a contradiction, a hardened Marine who loved opera, an accomplished athlete who was also a voracious reader and history buff. Everyone on Pinecrest Terrace in Wayne knew when Tony was chomping on his cigar while washing the cars or working outside because they could hear Wagner’s Tannhauser blasting through the neighborhood. And of course his straight up martini was never more than a few feet away. We can’t forget his love for movies, which lead to a collection of several hundred films, some of which are so rare they can’t even be found on DVD. With the military always close to his heart, he especially enjoyed reading war novels and volunteering at the Wayne Historical Society. He and Cathy enjoyed their time together at their condo in Ocean City, Maryland where he especially enjoyed the magnificent sunsets. His favorite vacation spot was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and, in his own words, “sitting in the sun, turning into a golden god.”
Tony’s faith was an important and central part of his life. He and Cathy were founding parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Wayne, where Tony served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector as well as on the Stewardship and Pastoral Councils. He also enjoyed volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Pantry in Pompton Lakes.
Tony’s life was one of tremendous self-discipline. He worked out every day of his life, even during the last six of the seven years while he battled cancer. Tony’s favorite hobby was working out downstairs in his home. He put thousands of miles on his exercise bikes, and needed to add weight rods to his BowFlex just to get a satisfying workout. Never losing his fighting spirit, he loved to send shivers through the house hammering at a heavy bag like Rocky for several sweaty three minute rounds.
In every facet of life, he was bigger than life. His daughter, Debbie, even nicknamed him “Superman!” because she believed he could fly. That name as, well as the name “Supe”, became an integral part of his identity, seen on the Superman shirts he often wore and the vanity license plates on his car which read “SUPRMAN.”
He did his best in all of his professional life. His service to his country as a U.S. Marine was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was a true patriot, evidenced by his love for his country and his fellow veterans. In fact, he even served as a three-time commander of the Riverside Veterans in Paterson. Despite his accomplishments, he always remained humble, never flaunting what he did. He was proud but reverent to his calling as a Marine, always aware of the true weight of war, and the sacrifices necessary to maintain our country’s “way of life”.
Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Catherine (nee Mazzotta); his son Mark Anthony Spina of Union, New Jersey; his son Matthew Glenn Spina and wife Maria of Scottsdale, Arizona and their children: Adriana Rose Spina and Michael Vincent Alger Spina; his daughter Deborah Spina Piperno and husband Frank of Lincroft, New Jersey and their children: Frank Anthony Piperno, Anthony Vincent Piperno and Adriana Michele Piperno; and his son Michael Anthony Spina and wife CarolAnn of Green Township, New Jersey and their children: Alexander Joseph Spina and Jacob Richard Spina. He is also survived by his brother Jack Spina of Tafton, Pennsylvania and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Anthony’s name are asked to consider the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or visit their website at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to the Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
February 14, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 9:00 AM from the funeral home, then to the Our Lady of Consolation R.C. Church, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, where at 10:00 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa.
Anthony J. Spina, age 80, of Wayne, passed peacefully into eternal rest on his birthday – Friday, February 14, 2014, with his loving family at his side.
Tony was born in Paterson on February 14, 1934. He was the elder of Anthony (Butch) and Virginia Spina’s two sons. Tony’s mom affectionately referred to him as her Valentine’s baby. He grew up in the Riverside section of Paterson with his younger brother, Jack. As a child, Tony was a little on the small side and was stricken with polio. But being a fighter at heart, he never let those problems hold him back. He even used to tell his children that after his growth spurt he kept a list of kids who had picked on him and then went back to settle the score. Payback was sweet!
Tony attended Eastside High School and tore up the field as an all-state football player. Fueled by his love of the heroic portrayal of the U.S. Marines in the combat films of his youth, he fulfilled his dream and joined the Corps upon graduation. Still only seventeen, he bravely served with honor and distinction in Korea, earning a chest-full of medals, including two Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars, the third highest military decoration for valor, awarded for gallantry in action. They will forever stand as a testament to his bravery and heroism.
The first Purple Heart and Silver Star were awarded after he blew his way into enemy territory with Bangalore Torpedoes allowing his squad to advance. Tony earned the second set after singlehandedly rescuing four wounded buddies, dragging them all to safety under heavy fire, and suffering a severe leg wound. Following six months of treatment aboard a hospital ship, Tony returned to the United States and whipped new recruits into shape as a Drill Sergeant in Quantico, Virginia.
During his time as a Marine, Tony was also a champion boxer, going 44-0 with all but four matches ending in a knockout. Never one to flaunt or brag, when asked the secret to his success in the ring, Tony credited it more to toughness and strength than to skill. He also played for the Marine Corps football team with tough-as-iron grit and determination. Tony was all over the field, playing both offense and defense.
His prowess on the grid-iron earned him a full scholarship to prestigious Muhlenburg University in Allentown, Pennsylvania. But his football career was cut short after tearing his Achilles tendon on the field. He transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting.
Following graduation, Tony went on to enjoy a long and rewarding career. His first accounting job was for West Shore Concrete Construction Company in New York. He later served as a Controller for Merrick Scale Manufacturing Company of Passaic, Mobile Fabrics Inc. of Hawthorne, Moldcast Lighting Division of Pine Brook, and Titan Marble and Stone of Totowa. In 1983 he became the Chief Financial Officer of D.N.S. Metal Industries of Long Island City; and in 1990 he was named CFO of Landmark Fire Protection, Inc. of Pine Brook where he remained until retirement in 2011.
He met his wife Cathy when he interviewed her for a job at West Shore Concrete Construction Company in New York. Cathy was intrigued by his voice during the initial phone interview. She went for subsequent interviews and eventually landed the job, but soon found that while she couldn’t really work for Tony, she certainly could marry him. They exchanged vows before God, family and friends at Morningside Chapel on West Broadway in Paterson on September 16, 1961, only thirteen months after they met, a marriage that has endured for more than fifty-two years. They renewed their vows twice – at their twenty-fifth and fiftieth wedding anniversaries.
Many saw Tony as a bit of a contradiction, a hardened Marine who loved opera, an accomplished athlete who was also a voracious reader and history buff. Everyone on Pinecrest Terrace in Wayne knew when Tony was chomping on his cigar while washing the cars or working outside because they could hear Wagner’s Tannhauser blasting through the neighborhood. And of course his straight up martini was never more than a few feet away. We can’t forget his love for movies, which lead to a collection of several hundred films, some of which are so rare they can’t even be found on DVD. With the military always close to his heart, he especially enjoyed reading war novels and volunteering at the Wayne Historical Society. He and Cathy enjoyed their time together at their condo in Ocean City, Maryland where he especially enjoyed the magnificent sunsets. His favorite vacation spot was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and, in his own words, “sitting in the sun, turning into a golden god.”
Tony’s faith was an important and central part of his life. He and Cathy were founding parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Wayne, where Tony served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector as well as on the Stewardship and Pastoral Councils. He also enjoyed volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Pantry in Pompton Lakes.
Tony’s life was one of tremendous self-discipline. He worked out every day of his life, even during the last six of the seven years while he battled cancer. Tony’s favorite hobby was working out downstairs in his home. He put thousands of miles on his exercise bikes, and needed to add weight rods to his BowFlex just to get a satisfying workout. Never losing his fighting spirit, he loved to send shivers through the house hammering at a heavy bag like Rocky for several sweaty three minute rounds.
In every facet of life, he was bigger than life. His daughter, Debbie, even nicknamed him “Superman!” because she believed he could fly. That name as, well as the name “Supe”, became an integral part of his identity, seen on the Superman shirts he often wore and the vanity license plates on his car which read “SUPRMAN.”
He did his best in all of his professional life. His service to his country as a U.S. Marine was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was a true patriot, evidenced by his love for his country and his fellow veterans. In fact, he even served as a three-time commander of the Riverside Veterans in Paterson. Despite his accomplishments, he always remained humble, never flaunting what he did. He was proud but reverent to his calling as a Marine, always aware of the true weight of war, and the sacrifices necessary to maintain our country’s “way of life”.
Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Catherine (nee Mazzotta); his son Mark Anthony Spina of Union, New Jersey; his son Matthew Glenn Spina and wife Maria of Scottsdale, Arizona and their children: Adriana Rose Spina and Michael Vincent Alger Spina; his daughter Deborah Spina Piperno and husband Frank of Lincroft, New Jersey and their children: Frank Anthony Piperno, Anthony Vincent Piperno and Adriana Michele Piperno; and his son Michael Anthony Spina and wife CarolAnn of Green Township, New Jersey and their children: Alexander Joseph Spina and Jacob Richard Spina. He is also survived by his brother Jack Spina of Tafton, Pennsylvania and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Anthony’s name are asked to consider the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or visit their website at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org.
Guestbook