Anthony “Tony” Joseph Moliterno passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. He was born on September 23, 1929 to Michael and Mary (Penchak) Moliterno, and was raised in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania with his two brothers, and two sisters. Anthony graduated from Vandergrift High School in 1947, and enrolled in the United States Navy on July 7, 1947.
Following training in Great Lakes, Illinois, Mr. Moliterno was posted in Washington D.C., where he served as a yeoman until his honorable discharge on… Read More » April 6, 1950. He continued his service with the Naval Reserves in 1950, stationed as a reservist until 1951 on an escort-ship destroyer which traveled between Philadelphia and Portland, Maine. He was released from the Reserves on January 17, 1955.
Anthony attended business school in New Kensington, and after working briefly in Michigan at the Budd Wheel Company, a car-part manufacturer, he returned to Vandergrift. On June 13, 1953, Mr. Moliterno married Josephine Virginia Mendicino. The couple continued to reside in Vandergrift where they raised their three daughters.
Anthony worked for several months at Erwin Steel Works, and then as an aide at Western Veterans’ Hospital in Pittsburgh before ultimately working as a security officer at U.S. Steel Research Laboratory in Monroeville until his retirement in 1984. Following retirement, Tony worked at the DoBi Restaurant in Vandergrift. Tony enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors.
He spent many seasons hunting and fishing, mostly with his brothers-in-law. One of his hobbies was training his beloved beagles as hunting companions. Anthony traveled with his wife Josephine to Fairbanks, Alaska, to observe the varied wildlife of Denali National Park.
A great fan of war and Western movies, Anthony traveled with Josephine by train across the United States to California, at which time they visited the sites where many old cowboy movies were filmed. Tony loved sports also, coaching Little League, golfing, and bowling. Bowling with local leagues became a favorite pastime, one in which he participated nearly until the end of his life.
Tony was a music enthusiast, and taught himself to play the guitar. He was especially fond of singing one of his favorite tunes, “The Blue Skirt Waltz”. Mr. Moliterno was a life-time member of St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church.
He appreciated regular visits at his home from the Sisters of Mary Immaculate who administered communion when he could not attend church services. Anthony volunteered for his community by delivering meals for the local “Meals on Wheels” program. Anthony and Josephine greatly cherished their longstanding relationships with their neighbors, whom they considered their “Cooper Street” family.
Anthony was preceded in death by his parents, Michael & Mary Moliterno; his brothers Frank and Sam Moliterno; his sisters Rose Majeran and Kathryn Kelly, and an infant sister Maria, all of Vandergrift. Mr. Moliterno is survived by his wife of 65 years, Josephine Moliterno of Vandergrift; and his three daughters, Denise Moliterno Ford and spouse Michael Ford of Ridgecrest, CA, Marisa Simmons and spouse Clifford Simmons of Kittanning, PA, and Maria Kramer and spouse Mark Kramer of Sarver, PA. Grandpa or Pappy Tony, as he was affectionately called, is also survived by five grandchildren, Whitney (Simmons) Lamb, and spouse William Lamb of Pittsburgh, PA, Eric Ford of Santa Barbara, CA, Sarah Kramer and fiancé Will Padden of Parkersburg, WV, David Kramer and spouse Becca (Phillips) of Linthicum Heights, MD; and Emily Kramer of New Kensington, PA.
In the last few months of his life, Mr. Moliterno resided at Saxony Health Care Center in Saxonburg, where he received care from his wife Josephine, his daughters Marisa and Maria, and the skilled staff of the facility. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church, 303 Franklin Ave. , Vandergrift, with Father James Loew, O.S.B. as celebrant.
EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH. Entombment in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, with military honors accorded by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brady-Curran Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Vandergrift, PA.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial contributions made in Anthony’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1100 Liberty Ave Suite E 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
