Anthony Justin Mench

Anthony J Mench, 59, passed away at his Ellensburg home Sunday February 14, 2016, from a particularly aggressive and fast-growing throat cancer. Anthony was born in San Rafael, Marin County, California, December 4, 1956, the youngest of three children born to Delphine and Allen Mench, a merchant marine. Anthony lost his father to cancer when he was only 14 years old. After his father passed away, Anthony’s mother moved the family to London, England, to effect a change and fresh start. It was there that Anthony first sat down at a piano and started playing, much to his mother’s surprise. He trained for classical music, attending college in music for a while after the family returned to California. He became trained as a piano technician, and as a gifted pianist he played and grew in classical music until a neurological disorder about 3 years ago prevented him from using the fingers of his right hand, which was a devastating blow.

His mother, Delphine Mench, whom Anthony lovingly cared for all through his life, preceded him in death just over two years ago. Anthony was married once, but divorced more than 30 years ago. He is survived by his cousin, Chris Zbinden of Ellensburg, and two estranged sisters of unknown location and status, and several distant cousins in California and Texas.

Anthony’s true love was music, and he was an accomplished pianist and violinist. In addition to music, Anthony was an accomplished artist in oil painting and charcoal, always trying to improve his interpretation of seascapes and portraits of people. Anthony also purchased several homes over the course of his life. He applied skills which his father taught him, and he renovated and use those houses as rental property which he then used to help support and care for his mother. Anthony was an avid student of the US Civil War history, and he loved to cook and savor fine food.

Anthony struggled with bouts of alcoholism his entire life, but remained a considerate and generous man at the same time, and strangely enough, was quite shy around women. He helped complete strangers who were limited in their needs or time while he also gifted friends and family. He did his utmost and succeeded in keeping his mother comfortable and happy in her later years. He had an inordinate amount of empathy for minorities, particularly those born downtrodden. But his bout with alcoholism continued to cause him problems throughout his life. Like all people walking this life on earth, Anthony had true steadfast friends, and a family who loved him. Anthony had more tolerance than most. He helped where he saw a need, loved dearly when it was time, and understood where he fit. No matter who we are, we all leave a hole when we leave, as is the case with Anthony.

He will be honored on March 11th at the Senior Center with a turkey dinner before the movie “Inside Out.” Please stop by and share in the remembrance his life.

A memorial service will take place sometime in the future in Petaluma, CA.