Obituary of Antonio Tony Zullo

Antonio Tony Zullo, age 92, of 218 Mountain View Road, Sylva died Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Med West Harris of Sylva, NC. Mr. Zullo was born July 10, 1919 in Cambridge, MA . He is the son of the late Placido and the late Camella (DeBenedetto) Zullo. He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn and one brother . His work ethic started early as he delivered newspapers at the age of five; by his early teens he was delivering 250 papers on weekdays and 400 on weekends. As a teenager, he worked in his fathers and grandfathers fruit stands in East Boston. He graduated from Rindge Tech High School in Cambridge in 1937, after which he worked in the CCC's in Vermont. He then attended Bridgton Academy in Maine, graduating in 1940 and subsequently attended Tufts College graduating in 1944. He was an outstanding football player at all levels, playing guard and center, once playing 45 games in a row,( he missed only one game in his football career). At Tufts, he was an All New England guard for 3 years, a Boston Post honorable mention All- American in 1942, and in 1943 was chosen as one of the top ten football players in New England. He also played lacrosse at Tufts, (after never playing in High School) and was an All New England defenseman in 1943 on Tufts New England Championship team. For his exploits on the field, he was elected to the Tufts University Jumbo Club ( Hall Of Fame) in 1979 and the Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame in June 2003. After College, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from May 1944 until July 1946. His unit was part of the occupation force after Japans surrender. He also played football in the Marines with a number of well known players including Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch. After his tour of duty in the Marines, he began his career as a Teacher/ Coach in 1946 at Franklin High School in New Hampshire. He subsequently taught and or coached at Waltham ( Massachusetts ) High School, where he was elected to their Hall of Fame in October 1995, New Britain ( Connecticut) High School, and then Uniondale (Long Island, NY) High School from 1956-1978. He retired from teaching in 1978. While teaching at Uniondale, he was a line coach at Columbia University for many years. He entered Columbia's Hall of Fame in 2010 as one of the Coaches of Columbia's last Ivy League Championship team in 1960, he subsequently coached at St. Johns University and at CW Post University. He umpired baseball for many years and was elected a Life Member of the Nassau County Umpire's Association. He served many years as an officer in the Uniondale H.S. Teachers Union. While all the above was happening, he was very busy raising his family of 5 boys with his wife Marilyn. After retirement he moved with Marilyn to Sylva, N.C. , where he resided until his death. While "retired", he had a successful run selling football equipment for Marty Gilman, Inc. He was also very active in American Legion, Knights of Columbus, delivered meals on wheels for many years(until he was 89 !), volunteered at the Hospital Thrift store and was an active member of St. Mary's Church. All in all, a very full life. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and his family. He is survived by five sons David and wife Annette Zullo of Sebastian, FL, Dr. Mark and wife Dorothy Zullo of Wakefield, RI. Ken Zullo of Sebastian, Fl. James of and wife Patti Zullo of Huntington , NY and Paul and wife Patricia Zullo of Sylva. Twenty Grandchildren and four great grand Children and one soon to be born great grandson. A special friend Eva Mullins. 2 Stepsisters Family will receive friends from 4 until 8 Pm Tuesday at Appalachian Funeral service. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday at 11:00 am in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Cahill and Father Ayala officiating Memorials are requested to the ALS Angel Fund for ALS research at 649 Main St. , Wakefield , MA., 01880 .