Anthony D. McNichol III

Tony was born on November 23, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was the only child of the late Anthony D. McNichol, Jr. and Marie Keegan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and retired from General Motors as a District Parts Manager. He spent much of his life in Syracuse, New York with his beloved wife of 59 years, Vivian V. McNichol, who preceded him in death on December 22, 2017. True to their vows, Tony and Vivian loved each other in sickness and in health. Together, they raised four children, Drew, Maureen, Tracy and Melissa, with a focus on family. They taught their children to live life with love, compassion, empathy, kindness and high moral and ethical values. Tony and Vivian retired to Florida in 1991 and he quickly forgot Upstate New York winters and vowed to never again wear socks.

Tony had many talents, which earned him the nicknames “Mr. Fixit” and “Tony Glass,” nods to his expertise with tools and stained glass. He enjoyed spending time on his computer and loved researching genealogy, solving crossword puzzles, collecting pocket knives and watching NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt. But Tony’s greatest talent was entertaining anyone he met with a great (or corny) joke and a smile. He even performed a stand-up comedy routine as part of a talent show at his assisted living facility.

Tony was a devoted family man of great faith. He and Vivian looked forward to attending Catholic mass each week and prayed together daily. Tony was a wonderful caretaker to his wife, was always the first to ask about family members and offer prayers or assistance, loved creating cards of encouragement or celebration for his grandchildren, and responded to positive news with his signature comment, “good show.” All family birthdays were celebrated with a telephone call from Tony and Vivian singing “Happy Birthday.” Known as Papa, Popop, Grandpa, or Grandpa T by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Tony recently wrote an adorable storybook called, “A King and a Toad,” in which he incorporated all of his grandchildren’s names.

Tony is survived by son A. Drew McNichol IV (Erin); daughters Maureen R. Bruno (Kimberly), Tracy M. Bolden (Tim), and Melissa A. Beebe (Steve); grandchildren A. Drew McNichol V, Keegan, Brendan and Gabe McNichol, Jacky Bruno, Erica Shinkle, Beth Boor, Paige Bolden, and Mitch, Nate and Jenna Beebe; great-grandchildren Leo and Carly McNichol, Wyatt, Evan, Owen, and Emily Shinkle, Ross Boor, Ava McNichol, and Nolan McNichol; and brother-in-law Jack Poulos and niece Alexandra Poulos. He was preceded in death by great-grandson Anthony D. McNichol VI.

A Funeral Mass will be held on September 26, 2020 at 11:00am at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 1310 Maximillian Street, Deltona, FL 32725. Interment will immediately follow at 12:15pm at Deltona Memorial Gardens, 1295 Saxon Boulevard, Orange City, FL 32763. Memorial donations may be made in Tony’s honor to Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.