Obituary of Anthony Francis Vanacore

Anthony F. (Tony) Vanacore was born in Brooklyn NY on January 5, 1925 to Michael and Anna (nee Vollaro) Vanacore. Tony was the oldest of four boys, brothers Fred and John, both deceased, and the youngest Michael. Tony attended Brooklyn Tech but left in 1943 to join the war effort. He was assigned to the 45th Infantry Division. Tony made the invasion at Anzio, was wounded and returned to make the invasion of Southern France before being captured and sent to a German concentration camp. He was liberated in 1945. Tony was the recipient of the Prisoner of War Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor Medal. He was honorably discharged at the wars end. Tony was married to Catherine (Pinky) Zurica on May 14, 1949. They had two children, Michael and Toni Anne. Tony went to work at the NY Sanitation Department and rose to the rank of Foreman. After retiring, he worked for many years at the New York Coliseum and the Jacob Javits Convention Center. He was devoted to his wife Pinky and mourned her death in 1986 until his own passing. Tony was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Commander of the Brooklyn "Key" Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War (2 time Commander). Tony passed away on March 27, 2018. He was 93 years old. He leaves behind his daughter Toni, son Michael, daughter-in-law Patricia, brother Michael and partner RandeeHansen and his nieces and nephews.Tony was a loving and devoted parent, always proud of his children. Tony was a friend and mentor to many but his children would particularly like to thank the special friends who were there for him in the past and, particularly,at the end. Many thanks to his niece Karen and her husband John Zerillo, niece Lisa Erickson and her husband Kenny,Harold Radish, Doctor Paul Liebman, Tommy Lauro, Ann and BobbyLee, Amy and Langston White and Lynda Thomson. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Tony's name to one of the following charities that he supported: Steven Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation (tunnel2towers.org), Wounded Warrior Project (Woundedwarriorproject.org) or the Disabled American Vets (DAV.org).