Reflecting on his journey, Tony said, “That old saying about ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ really is true in my case. The giants were my folks, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and the Franciscan monks. I thank them all for the view. I can never, ever, adequately repay any of them for all that they gave me. Their simple lessons for life were profound, and they stuck because they modeled them: deep faith that carried them through adversity, integrity, guts, generosity, a sense of service, humor, creativity, forgiveness, and so much more.”
Anthony reflected on the wisdom he had gained in his life. I asked him what of that wisdom he would share with the younger generations. “Seek wisdom. Look beyond yourself. Love much, and forgive much. Thank much; slow down. Hug a loved one, sip a glass of wine with each other, and enjoy the sunset,” he said.
He added, “I hope people remember that I lived and died a thankful man. I don’t know why I have been blessed like I have, but I have. I hope the last two words my lips utter are ‘Thank you.’ And if my lips can’t, my heart will.”
He ended with a simple but profound thought that ironically, also sums up his life very well. “In the end I’ve learned that it is love that counts, and you can only keep it by giving it away.”
