CANFIELD — Anthony Joseph Dascenzo, 93, born the youngest son of proud Southern Italian immigrants and raised in his cherished hometown of Youngstown, died during the early evening of Saturday, July 20, 2024, on the eve of the 68th anniversary of the day he married his beloved wife, Patricia Ann Welsh.
Tony chose to leave this life much as he lived it … gently, quietly and quickly, so as not to burden others, and above all else, he chose to be in his home where he could be surrounded by those he loved and cared about most, his children and their mother.
Tony was the last of the enigmatic “Dascenzo Boys,” the five brothers … Ralph, Arman, Frank, Tony and his identical twin, Joe … who grew up on Youngstown’s vibrant Italian East Side as closely knit to each other as they were devoted to their father, Antonio, and mother, Mercedes Carasella Dascenzo. Tony always considered the mid-20th century East Side as home, where he walked a short block up Euclid Avenue to Lincoln School and then a short block down Euclid to East High School until he graduated with the Golden Bears’ Class of 1950. Tony (nicknamed “Junior” by his siblings) then worked side-by-side with his brothers at the historic family business, Dutch Auto Body & Paint Shop, founded by his brother, Arman (nicknamed “Dutch”), which is to this day still owned and operated by Arman’s grandson and Tony’s great-nephew, Richie Dascenzo.
During the Korean War, Anthony J. Dascenzo honorably served the United States Marine Corps, stateside, after which he returned home to Youngstown in 1953 to shortly thereafter find his gaze setting upon a beautiful teenage girl sitting alone on a pink blanket near the bank of Austintown’s Rose Lake. He approached, sat down beside her, and with his characteristically humble charm, introduced himself. She shyly told him that her name was Pat Welsh, which signaled the origin of the lifelong love affair that came to be known to all who knew and loved them as “Pat and Tony.”
Pat and Tony married in 1956 at Immaculate Conception Church, and soon thereafter, while amid the creation of their first five of seven children, moved directly across the street from the beloved parents to whom Tony spent his lifetime remaining closely connected.
In 1963, as the father of five children under the age of six, and while working two full-time jobs to support his family, Tony launched his college career at Youngstown State University, in what would become an eight-year quest filled with evening classes and weekend study sessions culminating in him proudly accepting his bachelor’s degree in science education in 1971.
Affectionately known as “Mr. D” to his students, Tony taught business classes and auto body repair at East High School, his alma mater, for a decade before continuing his teaching career at downtown Youngstown’s Choffin Career & Technical Center. Tony lived and loved to offer and deliver help and support to his high school students, because this was, throughout his life, his most notable hallmark … a kind and gentle man who strived to accept all who entered his world, to make comfortable all who came into his life and to lift up all those whose paths he crossed, whether they be family, friends, acquaintances or strangers. Above all else, he cared deeply for the well-being of others, all others.
Tony leaves his seven children, Lynne Marie Dascenzo Malarick of Columbus, his namesake Anthony Jay Dascenzo of Youngstown, Kathryn Ann (William J.) Dascenzo Bradley of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Pattie Ann Dascenzo of Canfield, Janine Marie Dascenzo of Naples, Florida, Daniel Paul (Natalie) Dascenzo of Boardman and Paul John Dascenzo of Canfield. He also leaves behind his well-loved grandchildren, Robert (Debbie) Malarick of Columbus, Liam Bradley of Washington, D.C., Cailyn (Tyler) Bradley Nickerson of San Francisco, California, Colin Bradley of Washington, D.C., Jack Anthony Dascenzo of Boardman and Alex Michael Dascenzo of Boardman. Last week, Tony met for the first time with his first great-grandchild, Kit Bradley Nickerson of San Franciso.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Mercedes Dascenzo; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Jenny Dascenzo, Armand and Martha Dascenzo, Frank and Jean Dascenzo, and Joseph and Sally Dascenzo. Tony also experienced the too-soon deaths of his sweet grandson, Patrick Malarick; and his nieces, Joanne Dascenzo Luna, Barbie Dascenzo and Carol Dascenzo O’Leary; as well as the mother and father in-law who meant the world to him, Virginia and Paul Welsh.
Tony was devoted to his Roman Catholic faith, and thus, the tangible avatar of that faith, St. Dominic Church. This month marks the 60th anniversary of the year the Dascenzo family became official members of St. Dominic Parish, and in honor of that remarkable history, the family will host his funeral at the church as follows:
A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024, at St. Dominic Church, with visitation for family and friends from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday in the church parish center gathering space.
There will be a military honor guard and final blessing immediately following Mass.
Interment will be private, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Calvary Cemetery.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation in the name of Anthony J. Dascenzo to St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Ave., Youngstown, OH 44507.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.
Family and friends of Anthony may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to leave condolences for the Dascenzo family.
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