Anthony M. Maltese

Anthony Michael Maltese was known to many people by many different names. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a teacher, a director, an actor, a mentor, a professor, a father, and a grandfather. To his grandchildren he was known as Papa or Papa Tony. For William Paterson students, faculty, and staff they affectionately referred to Anthony not only as Professor Maltese but as “Doc”.

Anthony Michael Maltese was born on September 9th, 1932, in Newark New Jersey. The eldest of 5 children (Anthony, Danny, Vincent, Frankie, and Mary Anne) of Mary and Jim Maltese. As a child

Anthony learned how to play accordion and would break out the accordion at all the family functions and play, usually playing his favorite song "Lady of Spain". Anthony graduated from West Side High School in 1949 in Newark NJ. He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey and earned his Bachelor's degree in English. Having a few uncles that served in WWII, Anthony felt a sense of patriotism and he joined the army during the Korean War. Anthony went into the army as a machine gunner and achieved the rank of corporal. He was stationed in Fort Dix, New Jersey and worked as a court clerk for a base captain. After the Korean War ended, he attended Columbia University in NY to work on his Master’s degree in Speech Pathology. While attending Columbia University he took a faculty position at Arts High School in Newark NJ. During his summers Anthony taught/acted/directed summer stock theater in Burnsville North Carolina. In 1960, Anthony received his Master’s degree from Columbia and then accepted a full time professorship at William Paterson College. At the age of 28 he was the youngest professor in the college’s history. He started William Paterson’s Media Production curriculum by teaching television production three-camera-shoots with shoeboxes on broomsticks. He pushed for resources until the college had a TV studio. He worked with the FCC and was the responsible person for the college in getting their FM radio license. While working at William Paterson he took sabbatical in 1965 to start his PHD from Ohio University. In 1967 Anthony Maltese received his PHD in Radio and Television from Ohio University. Anthony continued his work at William Paterson by initiating the current internship program for the university’s communication department. He believed that it was the university’s responsibility to teach the students as well as it to be a vessel to have students employed after completion of their degree. He referred to his students as "his kids" and took special interest in seeing them succeed in their prospective field. Nothing made "Doc" prouder than to see a former student succeed after graduation.

Anthony retired from William Paterson College in 1996. The College and alumni department named studio B in Hamilton (Hobart) Hall after Anthony Maltese in recognition of his lifetime achievements. William Paterson University to this day has the Maltese Awards which are yearly awards given to students for their excellence in radio, television, film, broadcasting, journalism, theater, and comedy.

Anthony is survived by sister Maryanne Lehrer of Largo Florida, sons Jim and Dave Maltese, daughter in laws Carmen and Jessica Maltese, grandchildren Caity, Alyssa, Anthony (AJ), Maria, and Siena Maltese.

In lieu of flowers and or if you’d like to make a donation in Anthony’s “Doc” Maltese’s name the family asks that you make that donation to the Maltese Family Endowed Scholarship.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N., Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121