USAF Lt. Col. Anthony Stephen Pino

Lt Col Anthony Stephen Pino, USAF (Ret) died on March 23, 2009 in a FedEx cargo plane crash at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1981.

Tony, as he was known by friends and family, was first introduced to his wife of 25 years, Donna, in grade school. They have three sons, Nicholas, 22, Timothy, 19, and Stephen, 15.

Tony served in the Air Force for 23 years, including flying the Persian Gulf War. Relocated around the United States, he and his family found home in San Antonio.

Following his military career, he was a commercial pilot for American Airlines and JetBlue before flying for FedEx in 2007.

In life Tony served his community through various volunteer work and community activities. An avid cyclist, he also taught spin classes at gyms around San Antonio. He shared his love of traveling and aviation with his wife and three sons on many camping trips, vacations and flights.

Tony made friends with everyone he met with his humorous personality and kept them with his reliability, quality advice, and unconditional support. His death has come as a great shock to the vast community that loved him. In death, Tony's generosity and determination will continue to inspire the many lives he has touched.

He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Aruta Pino and brother-in-law, Dave Robison.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Pino; sons, Nicholas Pino, Timothy Pino and Stephen Pino; mother, Barbara Barnak; sisters, Debbie Robison, Kathy Donohue and husband Mike; Trish Lundy and husband Bryan; numerous other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boys Town Texas, 503 Urban Loop, San Antonio, TX 78204; Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Gift Management Services, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244; or the American Heart Association, 8415 Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX 78229.