Antonio B. Marchese 1940 – 2020
Our father, Antonio B. Marchese, age 80, of Ocala, Florida passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 28, 2020, from cancer. Tony, as he was known by many, was born on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico but moved to Brooklyn, New York at age ten. He attended Boys High School and served in the US Marine Corps from 1958-1963. He married his sweetheart, Rosa Cardona, on November 17, 1963. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Los Angeles, California and later to Ocala, Florida.
Tony is survived by his wife Rosa, and their 5 children, Elena, Melinda, Rosemary, Rachel, and Michael, as well as 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, a brother, his sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, and many nieces and nephews who consider him the patriarch of the family. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Edwin R. Marchese, Cesar A. Marchese, his mother, Candida Lopez Marchese and father, Rafael Marchese.
After studying the Bible, Tony became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1969. He served as a congregation elder in both the Imperial congregation in Los Angeles and the North Ocala congregation in Florida. He had a great love for God’s word and his greatest joy was teaching the Bible to others. Tony enjoyed giving public talks about his faith and had a strong zeal for his ministry.
Because of his time working at the Los Angeles airport, we enjoyed traveling to many places. He took us to visit mountains, beaches, deserts, forests, islands, and big cities, giving us beautiful childhood experiences. Those years hold some of our fondest memories.
Tony was also a diligent provider for his large family. He owned a landscaping business in Los Angeles before moving to Florida where he worked at the Florida State Fire College for over 25 years. This influenced him to spend time developing and obtaining patents for new firefighting equipment. Tony and Rosa also owned and operated a beauty salon in Ocala for ten years.
Tony was known for his playful, joyous nature, his incredible smile, balanced wisdom, and his ability to counsel and accept everyone exactly where they are. How grateful we are for all the years of his loving protection and guidance. His absence has left a giant void in our lives, but our memories will be shared for generations.
Online memorial service to be announced.
Announcement by Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home, Ocala, FL.