JACKSONVILLE, FL: Anthony P. “Tony” Colarusso passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, in his son’s home on August 28th 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the husband of the late Violet (Marston) Colarusso. Most of Gloucester will remember him as the long-time business owner/operator of “Anthony’s Beauty Salon,” where he spent 65 of his 92 years.
He was born March 9, 1918, the second of 7 children, to John and Theresa (Russo) Colarusso. Being the oldest boy of this big Italian family, hard farm work wasn’t a choice, it was a must. The development of this work ethic, at such an early age, helped him throughout his long life. He became a hair stylist and went on to win the New England Championship in Hairdressing for 1940. Tony married Violet Marston and they would be married for the next 53 years and raise 2 boys, John and David.
As many men of his generation, he spent time in the U.S. Army Air Corp., proudly serving his country in WWII, which included a two year tour as a Radio Telephone Operator and Cryptographer, stationed in Africa.
Following the war he opened Anthony’s Beauty Salon. His creative talents went beyond hairstyling; his love for music started with the violin as a child and on to the organ, as an adult, remained for life. You could always hear him humming a little unfamiliar tune, never heard before, and would never here again. He also had a unique talent of carving beautiful bouquets of flowers on a single sheet of light weight cardboard. The blossoms of what seem to be roses, gardenias, and perhaps an occasional design of his own; were artistically sculpted and symmetrical in design. People would marvel at his work and wonder how it was done. When asked, he would simply say “with my knife.”
He was his own ambassador of good will to the world. Words of praise were used sparingly, but those close to him were aware of his pride and his love for his family. To know Tony was to know his manner, personality, and character. Tony was Tony and he will be greatly missed.
Keeping Tony’s memory alive are his sons and daughter-in-law, John and Donna (Parsons) Colarusso and David Colarusso and former daughter-in-law, Jeanne (Bradley), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his sister Florence, brothers, Carl and Ralph, many nieces and nephews, and a very special family friend ”Frenchie” “The Boss.” In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Mary, Celia, Viola and a daughter-in-law, Rachel Beth.
His funeral service will be held on Friday morning in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. The family kindly requests that sentiments of sympathy please be donated to the Northeast Florida Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257 www.communityhospice.com.