Anthony "Tony" DeMay

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Anthony DeMay, 90, of Harvard, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 9 surrounded by loving family and following a long and eventful life.

Born on May 29, 1931, in Palermo, Sicily, to Vincenzo and Vincenza Iannocco. After the death of his father in 1936, Anthony immigrated to the United States with his family, taking the surname of his stepfather, DeMay, arriving in New York City on June 8, 1938.

The DeMay family settled in the city of Jeannette in western Pennsylvania where Anthony and his brother attended school. Circumstances required him to enter the workforce as a child to help support his family. He held myriad jobs as a youth – hawking newspapers, setting pins in a bowling alley, plucking chickens for a local butcher, and serving morning mass as an altar boy.

In June of 1948, Anthony enlisted in the United States Navy as a 17-year-old. He was trained as a hospital corpsman and transferred to San Francisco at the outbreak of the Korean War. He was further trained as an operating room technician, rising to the rank of Petty Officer, Second Class. Stationed aboard a hospital/troop-transport ship, Anthony made 20 Pacific Ocean crossings to Japan and Korea, as well as to South America via the Panama Canal. Anthony often spoke fondly of his life and time serving in the Navy.

Following his family and his honorable discharge from the Navy, Anthony moved to Harvard in June of 1952. He found employment and met his future wife working at the Admiral plant in Harvard. On June 25, 1958, he married Joan Rae Goodall in a civil ceremony. Together they raised five children: Craig, Michael, Anthony, Michelle and Christopher.

In 1960, he began working as a bookkeeper at the First State Bank of Harvard, and retired 33 years later as Senior Vice President in 1993.

He was an active member of his community; serving as American Legion Post commander and finance officer for 13 years, a Boys Little League umpire for 10 years, as well as board and chairperson posts with the Harvard Chamber of Commerce and Milk Days. He was also a life-long devout Catholic and member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Harvard.

He was a generous man, whose real passions in life were his family and friends, golf, cooking, having a good laugh and the gentle ballbusting of his loved ones. Dinner in his house on Sundays always meant a large Sicilian pasta dinner with all the trimmings, which more often than not, extended well beyond his normal six mouths to feed to include his children’s friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, in-laws and anyone else who happened to stopover. 

An avid golfer who “enjoyed” three to four rounds per week and virtually orphaned his family every Sunday during the season, weather permitting, of course–though he maintained that it never rained on the golf course. For decades he also was part of “The Poker Club,” a not entirely legal rotating monthly poker game with his buddies. 

He drew the most satisfaction and happiness from the exploits and endeavors of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Be it loading up the station wagon for coast to coast car trips to California, New York and Florida, taking his family to Italy and Sicily, going to Cubs, Bears and Blackhawks games, being in the stands for every sporting or school activity in which his children participated–he was never more proud or happier. 

His warm, generous bearing and disciplined approach to life will be greatly missed by all who knew him and were lucky enough to spend quality time in his presence.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincenzo Iannocco, Vincenza Mantia and Anthony DeMay, his wife, Joan Rae, his son, Craig Allan, his brother Joseph, his nephew, Joseph John, his in-laws, Raymond and Violet Goodall and Margaret Kjos. 

He is survived by his children, Michael, Anthony, Michelle (Guttschow) and Christopher, his son-in-law, Daniel Guttschow, his sister-in-law, Judy DeMay, his niece, Deborah Reising, his grandchildren, Lindsay (Michael) Clarke and Vincenzo Lang DeMay, and his great-grandchildren, Michael Anthony and Camden Daniel Clarke.

Visitation will be Tues., April 19, from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm at Saunders McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard, IL 60033.  The funeral service will follow at the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Harvard.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made in his name to the Salvation Army and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. 

Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.saundersmcfarlin.net.

Call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home (815) 943-5400

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