Anthony Ray Vannelli

Anthony Ray Vannelli passed away peacefully July 13, 2022. Tony was born in Longview, WA, January 27, 1949, the second son to Leo and Doris Vannelli. Andy, Tony’s older brother and he enjoyed learning sailing skills from their dad. Their love of the sea was further nourished as younger brothers Michael and Leo Jr joined them. Tony had many stories and family experiences of digging for geoducks off Puget Sound.

Tony graduated from Tacoma High School in 1967 and Washington State University in 1972 with BA degree in Physics. He was an agile and lithe wrestler and tennis player, lettering in wrestling. An excellent chess player, he also played the clarinet.

He enjoyed riding and tinkering with motorcycles, computers, electronics, and any other technical gadget. He was probably most comfortable inventing and building things in the garage or his workshop. Shopping at Boeing Surplus was a favorite family activity which prompted more tinkering and more trips to explore the next project. Whether building or fixing stereo pre-amps, cycles, or other projects, his mind was always engaged in something.

Later in his life he enjoyed doing Tia Chi, personal self-reflection, and cooking for his family. He had a great fondness for red licorice and all jelly beans except green and black ones, as those he considered “poison”. Tony “MacGyvered” so many things around his many family homes that his family has lost count! We loved his sense of humor, although sometimes we had to take turns listening.

Tony was married to Dorothy Smith in 1970. Together they had Athena Gail Vannelli and Tony Vannelli Jr (deceased 2018). The young couple worked together in their audio repair shop in Spokane for several years before moving back to the Longview area for Tony’s career with Warehouser in Fire Testing. They later divorced.

Tony was gifted with a brilliant mind in physics and computer science, and ultimately become a software engineer specializing in imaging and handheld ultra sound device technology. He was awarded many, many patents over the years for his contributions in computer imaging. He and two other colleagues developed “Horizon Imaging” as their business which focused on these skills. Colleagues and other coworkers respected and requested Tony for project work that needed thinking “outside the box.”

In 1994, Tony married MaryMeg Robsahm. They enjoyed music, spending time with family and friends and prayer circles with their spiritual community in Walla Walla until moving to Wenatchee, WA. They spent 16 years in Monroe, WA until moving to Rochester, MN, when Tony retired. They later divorced but maintained a strong supportive bond.

After Tony returned to Monroe, he felt a calling to explore a deeper spiritual foundation and became a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His faith has helped him heal body, mind and soul. A memorial service on Friday July 22, 2022, at 11 am will be held in his honor at the Monroe, WA Ward: 17332 Tester Rd, Monroe, WA 98272.

Tony is preceded in death by his father, Leo Vannelli II; Mother, Doris (Carr) Vannelli; and son, Anthony Vannelli Jr. Survivors include his daughter Athena Gail Vannelli (Olympia, WA); First wife, Dorothy Vannelli (Olympia, WA) and second wife, MaryMeg Robsahm (Rochester, MN). Brothers, Andy (Linda) Vannelli (Columbia SC); Michael Vannelli (Vancouver, WA); Leo Vannelli III (North Bend, WA).

Tony’s humor, tender heart, bright mind and deep generosity will be greatly missed. To accommodate allergy sensitivities the family asks that no perfumes or strongly scented personal products be worn. Additionally, in lieu of fresh flowers we ask that donations be made in memory of Anthony Ray Vannelli to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian Fund. https://donate.churchof jesuschrist.org/donations/church