Antoinette Varisco Guido

Antoinette Varisco Guido, 84, passed away on Friday November 11, 2011 after a brief and sudden illness. "Toni" as she was called by family and friends, was born in Bryan, Texas on December 4, 1926, the younger of Brazos A. Varisco and Lucille Scardino's two children. Toni had an incredible passion for books and reading and she would spend many a summer day, snuggled under a tree on her family farm eating apples and reading books. It was this insatiable love of literature and learning that propelled her to valedictorian of her High School class at Stephen F. Austin in Bryan at the mere age of 15. During this time, she met a handsome young Aggie, Cosmo Frank Guido. Brazos Varisco, her father, mentor, and inspiration was adamant that his daughters receive the very best education possible. So Toni, with her older sister Dorothy, entered Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, at age 15. While at Vassar, Cosmo, as a commissioned officer in the Army, relentlessly courted Toni and would take every opportunity to travel north from his army base in Washington DC to win Toni's affection.

Toni graduated in the class of 1945 from Vassar College at age 18 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She was accepted to Tulane Medical School, however she relinquished that opportunity for the love of her life, Cosmo. Toni accepted a position at Texas A&M University in the Chemistry Department and ultimately married Cosmo in 1946. Cosmo and Toni have four children: Brazos, Tom, Florence and Antoinette.

Toni had many diverse interests and hobbies and believed strongly in "giving back." She also believed that education was a life long pursuit - "If you stop learning, you stop living! Your education is your most important possession; no one can take it from you." she would often say. She was committed to excellence in everything she did. While raising her young family, she was elected president of the Camellia Garden Club of Shearer Hills, where she held many leadership positions. She believed gardening and floral arranging were important talents and she shared this knowledge freely with her family and friends. She served as PTA president and chaired numerous fundraisers at Mount Sacred Heart School and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and School. Toni also began the first library at Blessed Sacrament School. In her later years, she would serve on the San Antonio Symphony Board and the Development Board in the College of Education at Texas A&M.

Toni was a patron of the arts and an accomplished classical pianist; an interest she would continue well into her later years. She shared her love of music with her children and grandchildren; encouraging them to appreciate the symphony, ballet, theater and opera and attended cultural performances with them regularly.

Toni was extremely creative and enjoyed knitting, sewing and needlepoint; producing beautiful, warm sweaters for her children and grandchildren heading "north" to college and afghans for all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She patiently taught these arts to any child who showed interest.

Toni's love and appreciation for "all things Italian" extended to music, history, art, fashion and food. Her avid culinary interests continued throughout her life and cooking with her family and providing large sumptuous meals was her greatest joy. She loved to play tennis, golf and bridge religiously - "friendly competition" was her middle name.

However, the most important thing to Toni, above all, was family: her loving husband Cosmo, her children, grandchildren, and most recently her first two great grandsons. She was the consummate "mother" providing a warm and welcoming home for all for more than 65 years. Toni quietly and selflessly supported each of them when adversity struck, providing wisdom, patience, understanding and kindness in the hope of easing their pain. She often said: "You are only as happy as your saddest child." It was her personal commitment to help those in need.

Toni is survived by her husband of 65 years Cosmo, her sister Dorothy of Houston, her son Brazos and wife Lali of Houston, Brazos' children: Angela, Vanessa and husband Daniel, Anthony, Brazlee, Bacio, and Batia; son Tom and Maryanne Guido of San Antonio and their children, Chris and wife Adrienne, Lauren, Cosmo, and Michael Guido; daughter Florence Guido of Taos, NM and Greeley, Colorado; daughter Antoinette Browning of San Antonio and her children Teresa and Walter, and 2 great grandsons Max and Luca and her many family and friends who shared so many festive celebrations with her.

She will be remembered for her integrity, generosity, wide ranging accomplishments, gentle spirit, grace and elegance and her faithful devotion to her husband and family and that she lived as an example of selflessness for her children and all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Toni's honor to: Vassar College, The San Antonio Symphony League, and San Antonio Public Library, or to the San Antonio Symphony League, P.O. Box 6986, San Antonio, Tx 78209, contact either Deborah Moore: 210)771-2112 or Kathy Rafertee: 210)875-1720/ 210)680-2760, designated in honor of Mrs. Guido.