Anthony J. Turco, always known as Tony to his countless friends, died peacefully at St. Agnes Home in Kirkwood on May 8, 2016, at the age of 92.
The second youngest child of Pietro and Rosa Turco, immigrants from Sicily, Tony was born at the old City Hospital in St. Louis and grew up near Chouteau Avenue. He used to joke that he “was voting before he ever set foot west of Jefferson Ave.” Tony began working at the age of 7 and never stopped. He peddled newspapers, hauled stock in a neighborhood grocery, served in the Army, tended bar at a downtown tavern, sold real estate, and ended up making his career in the transportation business. His job took Tony to New York for over 20 years, where he attended many Yankees and Mets games, but remained a devoted Cardinals fan. After Tony retired and returned to St. Louis, he threw himself into volunteer work at St. Raymond’s Maronite Catholic Church, especially its Wednesday public luncheon, where he did everything from chopping the onions at dawn to sweeping up the kitchen floor after closing. Tony was kind and generous to everyone, a great tipper, and loved by all who knew him. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife Bette, and his siblings Sam, Charlie, Katie, Mary, Joe and Josie. He is survived by his children and their spouses Mark (and Elisabeth), Dawn (and Anthony), and Roch (and Sylvia). Tony’s final act of charity in a life filled with them was to donate his body to St. Louis University School of Medicine. Tony’s life will be celebrated with a memorial Mass and reception on Wednesday, May 18 at 10:30 am at St. Raymond’s, 931 Lebanon Dr., St. Louis, MO 63104. In lieu of flowers, Tony would want people to make an unexpected gift to someone less fortunate than themselves.