Anthony "Tony" G. Allega

Anthony Allega, also known as Tony, was born October 13, 1943, to Alfred and Ann Allega in Detroit, Michigan. He lived in Michigan until the mid-1950s, when his family moved to Riverside, California. He attended Rubidoux High School and Riverside City College and served six years in the United States Air Force reserves (1965-1971), attaining the rank of Airman First Class.

Tony worked for more than 40 years for the Jurupa Unified School District and the City of Riverside. In this capacity, he served as a water safety instructor, lifeguard, and responsibilities for managing the city’s public swimming pools. He loved the water, was an accomplished swimmer, and often traveled to Laguna Beach on weekends to swim in the ocean.

One day, at a pool in his community, he witnessed a commotion and, upon investigation, found a child in the deep end with others standing by, watching and not knowing what to do. Without hesitation – clothes on and all, just like in the movies – he dove in, brought the child out of the water, administered CPR and saved a life. The child’s mother called Tony, her “angel.” And that was Tony – helping someone, being kind to those in need and always there to lend a hand. Kind, friendly, gentle, humble, soft-spoken are words that were used to describe Tony. That said, soft-spoken didn’t necessarily mean quiet or shy – the man could hold a conversation like nobody’s business with a fantastic amount of detail, recollection and powerful storytelling!

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Fred Allega, who also passed in 2020. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Bunni, his nephews Philip (Ann), Lance (Anna), his cousins, Darlene, George, Steven, Jeannie, Mickey and dear friends Thelma and Ron.

He will be missed immensely, yet we take comfort that he is at peace, is whole again with his family and our Heavenly Father. Tony will be interred next to his parents at Green Acres Memorial Park in Bloomington, CA, in the near future.