Anthony Ghezzo

Anthony P. Ghezzo

July 27, 1927 ~ October 9, 2025

Anthony P. Ghezzo (Tony), 98, of Pasadena, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on October 9, 2025. He was born in Ravenna, Italy, son of Simeone and Caterina Fenoglio Ghezzo.

As a teenage boy, he saw World War II come to Italy. The Germans put him and friends into forced labor. He escaped to join the partisans where he fought against the fascists and German forces until Italy was liberated by the Americans.

As a young adult in Italy, Anthony loved racing motorcycles, traveling and socializing with his many friends.

He came to America in 1956. In 1962 he returned to Italy to marry Joanne F. Ghezzo, the girl he knew growing up. He brought her to America, and they were married for 61 years until Joanne passed away August 2023.

Coming to America meant he had to start over. He worked in a Caterpillar factory operating a sandblaster. He worked different jobs while improving his education. He got a degree from UCLA in Purchasing Management through night school while working full time. Eventually he was hired by Home Savings & Loan where he worked for 25 years. He retired as a Senior Vice President and head of the purchasing department.

After retiring in 1992, Anthony joined several Italian clubs in southern California. He dedicating much of his free time to the Italian community. It was also during these years that he expanded his journalistic collaboration with the weekly L'Italo Americano, the oldest Italian newspaper in America. In this weekly newspaper, he wrote a special column on Italian history and travel. For these efforts, in 1999, he received several honors, including Parchments of Merit from the Mayor and County of Los Angeles, and the "Man of the Year" award. In 2011, Salvatore Divita wrote “Living in the Mouth of the Wolf”, a biography about Anthony’s life during World War II.

Anthony was a devoted Catholic and enjoyed events, services and retreats at the Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center. This is where he will be laid to rest with Joanne.

Tony loved his family. His legacy will continue on through his three sons: Mark Ghezzo, and his wife Nancy (of Covina, California); Alan Ghezzo, and his wife Ginny (of Durham, North Carolina); and Paul Ghezzo, and his girlfriend Kris Jensen (of Pasadena, California); as well as six grandchildren: Christina, Matthew, Alex, Nadine, Jonathan and Dylan.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

John 14:3

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity. Dad was generous with charities.