Henry Jeffrey Fontanills Jr.

Henry was born in Tampa on November 30, 1941, to Henry B. Fontanills and Mary Aparicio Fontanills. An only child, Henry was active in the Ybor City Boys Club, the Boy Scouts of America achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended local schools and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1961 where he excelled in all sports, especially basketball.

Henry graduated with a B.S. Degree in 1967 from the School of Education and Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. Upon graduation, he worked as a hospital business administrator in Mississippi, then taught physical education at a high school in Laurel, Mississippi for a year before returning to his hometown of Tampa in 1969. He was quickly hired by the Hillsborough County Public Schools and began a 36-year teaching career beginning at Hillsborough High School, followed by Brandon, Plant City, Chamberlain, East Bay, King where he coached, taught Physical Education, Health Education classes and Driver Education. During his career, Henry also taught P.E. at several elementary schools. He instructed Health and Physical Ed at the Juvenile Detention Center for many years, ending his teaching career instructing Adults with Special Needs at Gary Adult High School in Tampa.

Throughout his lifetime, he loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, target and skeet shooting, boating and water skiing, driving his jeeps, watching and playing sports. Henry was a lifeguard during his summers, a basketball and gymnastics instructor, and mentor to many young people throughout his life.

In retirement, he enjoyed visiting with his friends, laughing and having breakfast at the Lutz MacDonalds for many years. He loved maintaining and mowing his lawn and keeping his piece of heaven on earth beautiful.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his cousin, Henry R. Aparicio, who was like his brother, and his beloved son, Henry Jeffrey Fontanills, III. He is survived by his bride of 44 years, Jacqueline Stinson Fontanills, his loving son, Andrew Joseph Fontanills, and by his large extended family; Janice, Ralph, Diane, nieces, nephews, cousins, all of whom he loved with all his heart.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home (4207 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610). The Eulogy will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 25th 2023 at the same location, followed by a Celebration of Life hosted by Aaron and Janice Stinson.

Those wishing to honor Henry’s lifelong commitment to family and community may make donations in his memory to the Lighthouse Gospel Mission, P. O. Box 2118, Riverview, FL 33568.