Anthony Martin Abbate

Anthony Martin Abbate was born in Pueblo, CO November 11, 1935 to Gaspare and Angelina (Spinuzzi) Abbate. He was known as Nino to his family, but went by Tony to everyone else. His mother, Angelina, was from Napoleonville, LA while his father, Gaspare, immigrated from Partanna, Sicily.

As a young man, the family lived in Ohio on a small farm outside of Akron. It was there that Tony learned the value of hard work going door to door selling homegrown vegetables and eggs from their family farm. It was at Howard High, a vocational school, where a special teacher took an interest in Tony. This teacher convinced Tony to begin thinking about attending college, even taking time outside of normal class hours to introduce Tony to calculus and other disciplines which the universities would require.

At Akron University, Tony became interested in the sciences, obtaining a degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation, he spent most of his engineering career working in the private sector for several defense contractors. Tony went wherever the job required, taking him to many missile sites around the country. Notable among projects Tony worked on, are the intercontinental ballistic missile program and a Cold War era program where he worked with the CIA on spy satellite programs. While working for General Electric in Sunnyvale, California, he met his beloved wife, Allie Jane Coleman. It was destiny that they met at the Amici Christi Catholic singles club. After a year long courtship, the two were married at St. Joseph’s church in Cupertino, CA on May 4, 1963.

Tony worked for several more years in the defense industry before deciding he wanted to open his own business. In December of 1969, he and his brother Joe opened their first McDonald’s restaurant on Olive Avenue in Merced, CA. From there he went on to own and operate several McDonald’s restaurants as a franchisee.

Tony was a hardworking, honest man who valued his faith and family above all things. Always keeping a well-balanced life, he spent many hours coaching little league and supporting his kids in their endeavors. He was the first president of the Our Lady of Mercy grammar school board. Tony took much pride in his devout Catholic faith. He, his wife Jane and their five children rarely missed Mass and made God the bedrock of their relationship at all times. In 1994, when grandchildren began to arrive, the name Poppy superseded Tony, and he found a new calling.

Poppy enjoyed being a grandfather and all that it entailed. Crawdad fishing with the grandkids, feeding the chickens, squeezing oranges for juice from the yard, and attending sporting events were incredible joys in his life. He was excited for their triumphs and offered encouragement and support in their times of disappointment. Above all, Poppy loved to give credit to the power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of keeping Christ front and center in their lives. He led by example for many years at St. Patrick’s church, spending hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Tony is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane Abbate. Their children: Jim Abbate (Sabra Howard), Paul Abbate (Yolanda Hernandez), John Abbate (Kaaren O’Brien), Becky (Abbate) Morrisroe (Jim Morrisroe) and Bob Abbate (Julie Penders). Tony is also survived by their seventeen grandchildren. And, he is survived by his brother Joe Abbate, San Marcos, CA; Santo Abbate, Green, OH; Maryann (Gaetano DiVittorio), Morgan Hill, CA; Joann (Albert Holmes), Redding, CA.

Tony was preceded in death by his father Gaspare, his mother Angelina, his brother Jim Abbate and his sister Rose Seprino.

A Rosary will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 459 W. 21st Street, on Thursday, November 18th at 7:00pm. The funeral will be held Friday, November 19, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 671 E. Yosemite Ave. The burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made in his honor to:

Our Lady of Mercy School Foundation

PO Box 3621, Merced, CA 95344

Tax ID: 77-0248510

JMJ Maternity Homes

435 W 21st, Merced, CA 95340

Tax ID: 20-5611546

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com for the ABBATE family.