1947 - 2016
COOPERSTOWN - Anthony John Schifano, 69, of Cooperstown, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, October 12, 2016, at home with his family by his side.
Tony was born October 5, 1947, in Pittston, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Angelo and Grace (Marranca) Schifano.
After graduating from high school, Tony entered into active service as a dental technician with the United States Navy on December 27, 1968. His last duty assignment was at the Naval Station in Adak, Alaska, and he received his honorable discharge on September 18, 1972.
Following his service in the military, Tony served for a brief period as a supervisor for a cold storage unit and then attended college to study medical technology. He later entered the field of medical research administration and for a time worked at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. During his time at the VA, Tony was the first person in the country to start independent research corporations, which allows the VA system to secure outside grants. This system still exists today. After moving to the Cooperstown area, Tony was employed as Director of Medical Research Administration for Bassett Healthcare Network. From 2003-2012 he found his true calling as a substitute teacher for Cooperstown Central Schools. The staff, the teachers, and the students became his second family.
Tony married the former Jean Marie Buggy in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, and just this past Monday they celebrated 30 years of marriage. Tony is further survived by their two children, son Nicholas Schifano and wife, Sarah, of Buffalo, and daughter Merritt Schifano of Ithaca; one brother, Robert Schifano and wife, Gayle, of Belleville, Pennsylvania; sisters-in-law Eva Wojtowicz of Pittston, Pennsylvania and Mary Ann Schifano of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Rebecca Miller of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Angelo Schifano.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, staff and friends from Bassett Medical Center for giving him the gift of life.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, October 16, 2016, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday, October 17, 2016 at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.
As an alternative to flowers, Tony's family respectfully requests that memorial gifts be directed to Cooperstown Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 322, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Bassett Healthcare, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.