After leading a life that touched so many, Anthony L Dutton, 85 of Melbourne,Florida died at home on November 4, 2020. He was born in Philadelphia PA, the son of Norman Dutton, a law partner at Morgan Lewis Bacius and Grace Thayer Dutton a homemaker. He attended Marple Newtown HS and went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania undergraduate (1956) and law school (1963).
Mr Dutton proudly served in the US Navy. Upon graduation in 1956, he entered the US Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport RI where he met his wife Barbara Gough at an Officer’s Ball. After 3 years of active duty flying reconnaissance flights from Newfoundland to the Azors and back, he transitioned to the Naval Reserves and retired as a Commander in 1977.
After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania law school, Tony and Barbara moved to Buffalo. NY to join Hodgson, Russ, Andrews,Woods & Goodyear where he became a partner in 1971. He was part of the leadership of the firm, heading the corporate and business groups. He handled many of the firm’s significant clients, including Baillie Lumber and Tripi Foods. While at Hodgson Russ, he worked in Buffalo, Albany, Boca Raton and Toronto, Ontario. In 2000 he transitioned to Of Counsel for the remainder of his carrer.
Politics was his passion. He became an active member of the Democratic party, serving as a ward chairman and a campaign manager and political advisor for Bill Hoyt. He and Barbara were also active in national polictics, raising funds for and promoting democratic candidates on all levels of government. Mr Dutton also served on the boards of the NYState Dormitory Authority, the Buffalo Seminary, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, the United Way, Housing & Urban Development and the NY State Association of the the Blind.
He was an advocate and activist for those who were underserved. Working tirelessly for equal housing opportuity, civil rights and the evironment. While in Florida, he provided pro bono services to the Legal Aid Society and served as President of the Florida Visiting Nurses Association and the Space Coast League of Women Voters as well as Board member to the Florida State League and the Boca Raton Library.
When not lecturing, gathering signatures or registering voters; he enjoyed travel, sailing and reading. Mr Dutton loved to spend time at his family home in Upper Chateaugay Lake in the Adirondacks. Sailing, canoeing and hiking with family and friends. He took a sabbatical in England where he discovered the Dutton family Sherbourne Estate, a 16c manor in the English Cottswolds. While in England, he became part of that local community while enjoying the old Enlish lifestyle. He was a true gentleman and a scholar.
Mr Dutton is survived by his wife Barbara, his daughters Elizabeth Dutton (Gordon) Bourne of NY, Margaret Dutton (Piero) Baglioni of Wales and his son Samuel Dutton (Cynthia) of Buffalo. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Andrea Baglioni of San Francisco CA, Luca Baglioni of Orlando FL and Giorgio Baglioni of London England. G. MacGregor Bourne and Grace Bourne of NY. Megan Urbaniak and Matthew Urbaniak of Grand Island NY. His siblings Nancy Dutton Wilson, Sydney Dutton Bortner and Stephen Dutton as well as 7 nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of his life at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial in Melbourne, FL on what would have been his 86th birthday, November 28, 2020 from 4-6 pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Chateaugay Lake Foundation, PO Box 222, Lyon Mountain, NY 12952 or using this link https://chateaugaylakefoundation.org/how-to-help/donate/
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