It took me a while to share my reflections of my father here. I've been living in my head and busy settling affairs. Neither are things I would have been doing a month ago. The Old Man was always there to talk things through and lend advice or, at the very least, comment on my own thoughts so that I could work things out on my own. He was always good for that.
I didn't expect him to pass when he did. I thought when we went to the hospital that he would walk out -- but he had other plans. Strokes, a broken hip, countless other ailments.....and never discharged by the hospital. He always left at his own accord, his decision, his schedule. He just had to make this last time one last act of defiance, one last time of doing things his own way like only Tony would do.
I celebrate my father and his life of doing things his own way by honoring his wishes – no fanfare, no headlines, and no formal ceremony. He appreciated his life, everyone in his life, and chance encounters with people he found interesting. To each and every one of you on that list I want to say that I appreciate your condolences and thoughts for the man that loved his wife, his family, friends and his life so much that he didn’t want to assume your time to mourn for him. He would have hated that.
Tony
Is
Dead
It hurts to write that. I think he wanted the shock value to take the sting out of the mourning. It doesn’t help as much as he thought it would.
I LOVE YOU DAD!!
I hope your glass is full, the grill is hot and the skins on your drums tight. 
You were always my hero.

Smith-McCracken Funeral Home

Angelo Barbagallo

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Angelo "Tony" Anthony Barbagallo

October 2, 1944 – October 26, 2025

Smith-McCracken Funeral Home

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