Anthony Frank Fontana, Sr.

1946 - 2026

Anthony Frank Fontana, Sr., (Tony) 79 of Rome, N.Y. passed peacefully at home on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Born in Rome, N.Y. on December 13,1946 to the late Michael A. Fontana of Catania, Sicily and Angeline T. (Arena) of Rome. Tony graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1965 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966.  In 1967 He married his high school sweetheart, Kathy and they had 6 children together.  A proud American Veteran, Tony served on many distinguished Naval ships throughout his career, with the most notable being the Battleship U.S.S. New Jersey, BB-62 in Long Beach, California from 1982 – 1985.  During this time, the battleship was deployed to the Persian Gulf off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, to support our U.S. Troops and show force amid the Lebanese Civil War. The “Big J” was there for 11 months, the longest deployment of a U.S. warship since World War II.  He was particularly proud to have served on this Battleship alongside the brave men and women of the 3rd Division and remained lifelong friends with many of them. 

Tony was then stationed in Mayport, Florida and in late 1985, his wife Kathy passed away from a long illness.  He married Kay Annicelli in 1988. In 1992 Tony retired from the US Navy as a Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate, after a long and illustrious career. He remained in Florida and founded Andiamo Trucking after retirement and later Andiamo home improvements. In 2013 his wife, Kay passed away after 28 years together.  His fiancée, Lyn who has shared the last 12 years with him, has been a loyal and caring partner and took especially loving care of him over the last few years while he battled health issues, for which we are forever grateful.

If you knew Tony, you would certainly have a funny story to tell about him.  He was a fun-loving guy and always up for a good time.  He loved people and always hosted the best BBQ’s and his famous Christmas Eve Gala! Tony never left anyone without a place to go or an empty stomach for the holidays, inviting friends, neighbors and his Navy peers.  Always in the kitchen cooking and boasting that this was the “best thing you ever ate”, he loved making Sunday sauce and his renowned fried meatballs, sausage and peppers, Sicilian fried potatoes and famous eggplant parmigiana.  

A true Roman through and through, Tony always retained residency in East Rome. He chose to spend his last few years living here full time. Tony had such a love for this city and heritage and wanted to preserve the character of the East Rome that he had grown up in. As the unofficial “Mayor” of the neighborhood, he was instrumental in having the street paved and the sidewalks and curbing replaced as well as having old trees cut down and having the neighborhood beautified.  You would find him daily sitting on his enclosed porch drinking coffee and doing crossword puzzles and of course, monitoring the neighborhood. He was exactly where he wanted to be.

Tony is survived by his Fiancé, Lyn Pickeral, 6 daughters and 3 sons, Angela (Joseph) Muriale, Joelle (Jack) Jessen, Karen (William) Compton, Anna Marie Fadden, Ann Marie Annicelli, Rosalie Fontana, Anthony Fontana, Jr., Michael Fontana and Nicholas (Cheryl) Annicelli, 13 grandchildren, Haley (Joe), Jenna, Danielle, Kathleen, Anthony III, Shelby, Gavin, Delanie, Carter, Savannah, Emma, Peyton and Harper and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Michele and Angeline Arena Fontana, his wife Kathleen Mary Fontana, his wife Linda Kay Fontana and sisters, Katherine (Paul) Piper and Josephine (Raymond) Calder.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to cousins Carol, Barbie and Phil and their families for always being there and taking care of Pop while we couldn’t.

Private burial with full Military Honors will be held at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Rome, N.Y.

Memorial contributions in Anthony’s name may be made to Tunnel To Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306, or online at t2t.org.

Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, N.Y.  13440.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.