The first time I ever met Tony was through a student athlete who had Tony as his athletic-academic counselor since I was having issues with my history class…he told me Tony was “the best” on history. I remember thinking Tony was so sassy, but I was digging it. The following year, Tony became our gymnastics team athletic-academic counselor and I was beyond ecstatic to get to spend more time with this tall, witty, sarcastic man! Our relationship grew into a friendship as we shared similar passions for the outdoors, wildlife and Tony had a way of turning my day around if I was in a mood and also challenging me to be the best version of myself in all aspects of my life. Tony became family to me and we spent many summers together traveling the country, exploring national parks and teaching me everything he knew. He always told THE BEST stories that I still tell to this day…one in particular, involving a bear bite and a butt! Some of my favorite memories are hanging around the fire pit, stars blazing overhead as Tony played the guitar and we sang along together. I’ll never forget the time we ran out of gas in South Dakota and had to walk along the highway towards a gas station until a biker couple gave us a ride! It was always an adventure with Tony and it just felt like I was actually living when I was with him. We shared many jokes about my “weird healthy eating habits” as I criticized his choice of McDonalds for breakfast. But then who was I to judge, snacking on his huge family sized bag of M&M’s we had to restock too often. I could write a book on my experiences with Tony and how he enriched my life. He introduced me to one of my greatest passions, hiking and exploring national parks. I’ll never visit a national park without thinking of Tony. I’ll always feel like he is with me as the wind blows through my hair at the summit, as the fire pit smoke stains my clothes, as the eagle screams overhead, as the mountain landscape consumes my vision. Tony will always be with me and I will forever celebrate his life.
