Anthony "Tony" Joseph Lewis, age 83, of Dartmouth, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. He was the devoted husband of Rachel (Klein) Lewis, with whom he had shared sixty-two years of marriage.
Born in the Bronx, New York, he was the son of the late Carlton H. and Lillian (Dashefsky) Lewis. The family then moved to Beacon, New York.
Tony graduated from Beacon High School in 1960 and went on to attend Rutgers University, graduating in 1964. Following Tony and Rachel’s marriage, the couple moved to Wisconsin where Tony received his PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tony was a United States Army veteran and served during the Vietnam War at the US Military Academy Prep School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia for two years, before being honorably discharged as a captain. The family moved to Buffalo, New York, where Tony was a professor of Shakespeare in the English Department at Buffalo State University for thirty-two years before retiring to South Dartmouth, MA. After retirement, he continued to teach. He taught Shakespeare for Second Half Learning and comedy at the Dartmouth Council on Aging. Tony also wrote feature stories for the New Bedford Standard Times and book reviews for the Providence Journal. Tony was a former president of the Southcoast Chamber Music Society. Tony was a lifelong learner, teacher, and performer. He was a stand-up comedian, an avid gardener, and also found joy in reading, writing, and building projects. However, his greatest love was spending time with his family.
In addition to his wife, Rachel, he is survived by two children, Miriam Elizabeth Sabin of New York City and Raphael Jacob Lewis and his wife Rachel Reagan of Boston; four grandchildren, Joseph B. Sabin, Margalit L. S. Sabin, Celo F. Lewis-Reagen, and Miranda R. Lewis-Reagan; one sister, Barbara Trecker and her husband, James, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM at South Dartmouth Cemetery, 507 Elm Street, Dartmouth, MA. Shiva will be observed at the Lewis residence immediately following the burial until 5:00 PM.
Memorial contributions in his honor can be made to: Dartmouth Natural History Trust (DNRT); New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Dartmouth Council on Aging.
Arrangements are in the care of Sugarman-Sinai Memorial Chapel, Providence, RI. For condolences, please visit www.sugarmansinai.com
