Anthony J. Dippolito

Anthony John Dippolito passed away on April 9, 2025, at age 92, after a decade-long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Tony was the devoted son of Joseph and Angelina Dippolito, loving big brother of his late sister, Regina Anton and friend to his brother-in-law, Carl Anton. He was the cherished “Uncle Tony” to many, not just his nephews and nieces, Rick and Tracey Anton and Karen and Glynne Borger, and his great-nephews and great-nieces, Joe and Nick Anton, Kristen, Thomas and Ryan Bayreuther, and Samantha and Jack Borger, but also to the many others he leaves behind whose lives would not have been the same without him, including his longtime companion, Joyce Anton.

Tony was the easiest person to spend time with. He was kind and always curious, a good listener, with a terrific sense of humor. He was a very decent and modest man, honest and loyal, who gave people the benefit of the doubt, and did not dwell on negativity. His world revolved around his family and his lifelong friends, and, of course, his beloved New York Yankees. He lived a simple life, spending his time on the things that matter the most, companionship with others and caring about them.

Tony enjoyed playing softball with his many dear friends, well into his 70’s, and baseball was always one of his biggest passions. He had many other pastimes. There were the regular poker games in the dentist office of a friend; the men’s bowling leagues (filling shelves with trophies); the tennis games with his family; ice skating (self-taught from a book); deer hunting in upstate New York, and the nights at the racetrack in Yonkers. He spent most summer weekends fishing on the Great South Bay and off the coast of Fire Island, always with the Yankees game on the radio. There were the shark tournaments in Bay Shore, and chartered fishing trips on the North Fork with his oldest friend. Tony loved to read, not just the pot boilers but also the modern classics. He even tried his hand at drawing (though later in life the pictures were more likely to be cartoon characters from TV shows that he would watch with his great nephews after he picked them up from St. Kevin’s School). Later in life, he even taught himself to be a pretty decent cook. And from April to October, the Yankees occupied much of his time. He rarely missed a game (even if he had to tape it or listen on the radio). He and his companion Joyce spent many Sundays at the Stadium, where he made new friends easily. Late in life, Tony spent countless hours in baseball fields all over Queens as an assistant baseball coach for his great-nephew Nick, for St. Kevin’s CYO and DAC.

Tony lived his entire life in Queens, including 83 years in the family home on Queensboro Hill. From his earliest childhood in Corona, as the oldest of many grandchildren, Tony was surrounded by a large and loving family, with aunts and uncles of his own who doted on him. After graduating from Flushing High School, Tony enlisted in the Air Force for four years during the Korean War. He remained stateside in the Midwest and Texas during the conflict and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1955. Upon coming home, he began working as an electrician under his father’s license and then took over the business when his father retired. Long after his own retirement, Tony could be counted on to help with the electrical emergencies of family and friends alike.

The many years he spent in the grip of Alzheimer's will not diminish the memories we will always cherish of Uncle Tony: a lazy summer afternoon fluke fishing on the boat; the games of catch at backyard barbecues and in the alley behind the house in Queens; buying the family Christmas tree every year (and being assigned the job of stringing the lights, of course); attending countless ballgames for the kids; trips to the Bronx Zoo and the Aquarium; going to the movies; sleigh riding and ice skating and bowling, and just spending time, lots of it, talking and laughing, with all the patience and grace that came so naturally to him.

Tony’s family is deeply grateful for all the help that we have received over the years from the dedicated aides, Karen, Gurdip and Bob, who have cared for him. It would not have been possible to care for him at home without their support. A special thanks to Karen Hastings, whose devotion to Uncle Tony for the last three and a half years was the greatest of blessings during these difficult times.

Uncle Tony, may God bless you, as He relieves you of all the suffering you have endured for so long, and may He bring you into His loving light. We love you so much and we will miss you always.

A visitation for Tony will be held Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 9:45 AM at St. Kevin Church, 45-21 194th Street, Flushing, NY 11358 followed by burial at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, Flushing, NY.