Anthony “Tony” Peter Pontello

Anthony (Tony) Peter Pontello passed peacefully on September 19th at the age of 85.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Born on January 4, 1939 of Italian lineage, he was raised in South Philadelphia and lived in Springfield, PA for over fifty years. He graduated from Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University) in 1961, studied mechanical engineering, and was a member of TKE fraternity. He was the first in his family to obtain a college degree.  Following his graduation, he spent two years in active military service (the Army). After serving, he later decided to go back to Widener for his Master’s in Business Administration in 1970. Post-graduation, he went on to work his career at the Naval Air Engineering Center (18 years) and the U.S. Department of Energy (20 years) where he retired as the Regional Director of the Mid-Atlantic region. During his working years, he published 80 papers and held 3 patents and 8 patent applications.

Tony was a generous man who dedicated himself to his community. He was a member of the Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame; a co-founder of Widener’s Sport Management program; a co-founder of Widener’s Business School “Speaker Series”; a sponsor for the International Exchange Program for the Sport Management program; a chair on the Sport Management Advisory Board; and also served on the PMC Museum Board Committee. He volunteered for the Springfield Youth Club and coached children’s football for over 20 years. In his “retirement”, he continued working at his store, APPCO’s Sports World, which he owned for 35 years, to continue his involvement with the community and the sports that he so loved to coach and participate in.  He was known to give away sporting equipment to those less fortunate as he believed that every child should be able to play something they loved and that their financial situation shouldn’t dictate them not to play.

Pop-Pop, as he was known to his grandchildren, loved to spoil them, enjoyed taking them out to breakfast and dinner and was known to put “treat” money in their pockets when they weren’t looking. Listening to his grandchildren laugh and having his family together made his heart happy.  Food was one of Tony’s enjoyments in life, often going out to local restaurants weekly. He relished in his family coming together for a meal while sharing lots of stories.  He never met a pizza that he didn’t love and he enjoyed watching various cooking shows daily, even though he never cooked. It was all about his love of food.  He was a longtime Frank Sinatra fan and animal show lover. As a diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he was known to turn off the game and calling them “bums” when his team wasn’t playing as he felt they should. For many years he played on various softball teams in Philadelphia with his friends even after moving to the suburbs as South Philly certainly held his heart.

He married the love of his life, Barbara Ann, on October 31, 1964 and they spent 54 amazing years together. Loving father to Anthony Peter Pontello II (Stacy) and Heather Lynne Swartz (Kevin).  Cherished grandfather of Angelina Pontello and Tyler Swartz.  Devoted twin brother to Rosemarie Pontello. Caring uncle to Martha Crow (Bill), John Gregitis (Rose Mary), Lizanne Kiel (Mark), and David Gregitis (Rosemarie). He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Ann Pontello (nee Straka), his parents, Pietro and Pauline Pontello (nee Ruggiero) and his beloved sisters, Norma Pontello and Dolores Gregitis.

He made a huge impact on the lives of his family, his friends, his alma mater and his community.  The world was truly a better place because of him and he will be greatly missed.

Relatives & friends are invited to his Visitation at 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM ALL IN CHURCH at St. Kevin Church in Springfield, PA on Friday, September 27, 2024.  Interment S.S. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated in his memory to the American Heart Association at Ways to Give | Make a Donation | American Heart Association or by mailing along with this form American Heart Association Printable Donation Form – In Honor of to American Heart Association or American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692.

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