Anthony “Tony” Barry, age 90, of Dunedin, FL, died on November 12, 2024, at Suncoast Hospice Center in Palm Harbor, FL. He was born on April 13, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to Bronislaw and Wiktoria Bazarewsky, who lovingly called him Butch. Tony often jokingly introduced himself as Irving or Fred, and many referred to him as Big Tony.

He is survived by daughters Mary (Mike Simmons), Ann Marie (Cezary Poninski), and Kelly (Kevin Daugherty); grandchildren Cas, Katelyn, Kiera, Eileen, Aleksander, Gregory, and Maxmillian; and his lady friend Maureen Coderre. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, his parents, and 12 siblings.

A Navy Veteran of the Korean War, Tony was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan turned NY Mets fan. He had a lifelong love of sports, from watching the NY Rangers as a kid to supporting the NY Giants and Florida State Seminoles, and spent many hours watching ESPN. He was an avid reader and loved to read “The House that Jack Built” and “The Monster at the End of This Book” to his daughters and grandchildren.

In 1969, he married Eileen (née Gilroy), and they raised their family in Seaford, NY. Attending Mets games together, fishing, riding roller coasters at Hershey Park (which we later found out he hated but only went so we could ride them!), and pumpkin picking were family favorites. He was a well-known regular at the Seaford Public Library. He worked in the New York Court System and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, earning his 4th Degree. He enjoyed bartending and running the football pool at Memorare Council. He asked for extra pickles at every meal and sometimes wore part of his meal on his shirt. He believed strongly in education and worked hard to provide a Catholic education and college degrees for all three of his daughters.

Tony is proof that people can grow and evolve at any age. In 1995, he made the life-changing decision to give up drinking. Two years later, he joined AA and has actively participated in the AA community since then. This January, he would have celebrated 30 years of sobriety.

In 1997, Tony retired and moved to Florida, where he enjoyed visiting Kelly at FSU and attending games during their exceptional Bobby Bowden era. He also enjoyed spending time by the pool, going to the dog track, going out to dinner, cruising the Caribbean, and dancing with his “lady friend” at the local VFW. They enjoyed several years together, and Maureen brought out a playful side in Tony, as did his grandchildren.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and had a special relationship with each of them. Cas, his oldest grandson, particularly appreciates the love and complete support always provided by Grandpa. The Simmons kids remember Grandpa reading to them and acting out every character’s voice in the book. He called Katelyn his “prom queen” from the time she was very young. He enjoyed following Kiera’s accomplishments in sports and was proud to have a granddaughter playing ice hockey. He was very proud of Eileen’s accomplishments as a published author and aerial artist and hoped she would attend FSU. Alek was his mini-me; he saw himself in Alek and knows he can achieve great things if he puts his mind to it. Goofy Greg always made Tony laugh, and Grandpa always enjoyed his big hugs. He was so excited to finally get a football player in the family with Max.

A wake will be held on Monday, November 25th, from 5 to 8 pm at Massapequa Funeral Home North Chapel. The funeral will be at St. William the Abbot on Tuesday, November 26th, at 9:30 am, with burial to follow at Calverton National Cemetery. Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Tony are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas, 164 West Lake Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34684.

The memory of Tony will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved him.