Anthony “Tony” Mancuso, the first coach of the USF Bulls Hockey Team, died Tuesday, December 23, 2014 of a heart attack at Mease Countryside Emergency Room with his love, Rose Cappelletti, holding his hand. Tuesday was a wonderful day, filled with pedicures and manicures, stories about his beloved Niagara Falls, his “kid brother”, Toni Parisi, (whose mother, Anthony still recalled, made the best bread in the world). It was as if he was doing a replay of his life, remembering his parents, Dan and Mary Mancuso, his sister Ceil and her family, his early hockey and softball days and the many friends and relatives. While watching television they showed a commercial about the Hershey Chocolate Company, he retold his summer trips to his maternal grandmother, Vincenza Disco and his aunts, uncles and cousins. Then, of course, conversation turned to hockey, the passion of his life. Anthony had many passions and jobs in his life but none held more endearment and meaning to him than his beloved hockey. He would recall Phil Esposito, Brother Tony, Bobby Orr, Tony Parisi and so many other names that just don’t come to the fore at this moment. He was especially proud of being selected to be the first Hockey Coach of the USF BULLS. He always said, “I love those kids!” Just this past summer, his “kids”, now in their late 40’s and successful at their various jobs, gathered together one from Bratislavia, Slovakia, another from Chicago, and the rest from Florida, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the team at the Thunderbird Motel for a three-day celebration. The Coach was in his glory and the memory of those young men remained with him until the day he died.
Anthony was born in Niagara Falls, Canada on November 29, 1929. He loved his city and although a resident of the USA for over 55 years, his eyes would well up with tears whenever at a game at the Canadian National Anthem was played.
Leaving behind those who will love and remember him forever is his beloved son Danny (football coach at Admiral Farragut Academy), his daughter-in-law, Ann Marie, his talented grandchildren: Danielle, Christina, and Anthony. Anthony also has a daughter, Gina, who lives in Indiana. And in the past 5 years of being with Rose, grew to love and appreciate the kindness and respect shown by her sons: Dr. Enea John Vanzo of Bainbridge, GA, Leonard Freed and his wife Birdie, their two children, Francesca Ersilia and David, and Rose’s youngest son, Dr. Fred Freed and his lovely Sophia Marie. They looked upon Anthony as an important part of their lives and he considered them as having three more sons.
There are many out there that knew and loved Tony and feel sadness at the loss of a “great guy”, but none more than the woman who loved, nurtured and cared for him – his beloved Rose. His passing was painless and quick, but not before regaling the emergency team about his gorgeous Stanley Cup ring for being an off-ice official and all the teams he played for. Although proud of his many lifetime achievements, he died with one regret – that of not being placed on the Niagara Falls, Canada Hall of Fame.
Anthony, or “Horn” as he was known during his hockey career, is looking down on all of those he knew and still loves. He’s suited up in St. Michael’s uniform, playing his favorite game and, in all probability, is sitting in the penalty box for hitting. Anthony is being cremated and in a simple ceremony his cremains will repose in the Giuliani Family Mausoleum in Calvary Catholic Cemetery sometime in January.
JOB WELL DONE, COACH!
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