Anthony Posillico
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TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY POSILLICO SR
Anthony Posillico Sr was the youngest of 9 children born to Costantino Posillico and Palma (Piscitelli) on August 1, 1929 at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola. To support their large family, Anthony’s parents worked as caretakers on the Phipps Estate in Old Westbury. Just before Anthony was born, the family decided to leave Old Westbury to establish their own residence and business on Post avenue in Westbury near Winthrop avenue. As Anthony grew, so did his interest in helping his family in their main business- landscaping and construction projects. The family business became very successful and moved one final time to 615 Old Country Road to build a new “estate” from the farmland there at the time, incorporating their business operations and residence into one location, with room to expand as the family continued to grow. The key to success was the emphasis on the family “team” that supported their growing positive and well-known reputation. One of his older sisters remarked how he was a “Big Boy” as a child, a nickname that would stick with him for the entire 91 years of his life. He became an important family partner of the Posillico Construction Company which is still in operation today and was involved in many of the major road and highway construction projects across Long Island beginning in the 1940s. His reputation for hard work and honesty was well known by all municipalities and contractors in the region. At his brother Frabrizio’s wedding in 1949, he met Helen Femmia (Faye) Prianti, who was the sister of Frabrizio’s bride—it was love at first sight for both! Ultimately, this two brother/two sister romance created even closer family connections --- including the 10 children of the Prianti Farms family of Commack! In 1951, Big Boy joined the U.S. Air Force and quickly rose through the ranks to become a Crew Chief of an F-86D Saber Jet, an advanced Jet Fighter used in the Korean war and by the North American Air Defense Command to protect the United States from enemy attack. He was stationed at various Air Force bases around the U.S., including Fort Sam Houston in Texas, Muroc Air Force base (Edwards AFB today) in California, and other bases in Cheyenne Wyoming and New Jersey. During this time he stayed in touch with his sweetheart, Faye Prianti through cards, letters, and pictures. After his tour with the Air Force ended in 1953, he proposed to Faye and they were married on October 23, 1954. They had 4 sons- Costantino (Tino), Joseph, Anthony Jr and Mario, and all of whom worked for Posillico Construction at one point or another. Big Boy and Faye had 16 grandchildren – CJ, and Sean from Tino and Trish; Eric, Jim, Dave, and Anne from Joe and Colette; Anthony III, Aloysius, Joseph, Thomas and Clare from Anthony Jr and Laura; Paul, Philip, Michelle, Mary and Christopher from Mario and Georgine. Big Boy and Faye were not only devoted parents committed to raising their own boys with loving pride and unwavering support over their entire lifetimes, but they became “supplemental parents” to all their grandchildren by providing loving spiritual guidance everyday of their lives. Big Boy was a special Dad to all his children and grandchildren, always there to support them with love and generous support being an honest and sincere role model to each one of them. He taught them to do their very best for every job they attempt and every path that they take in their their lives, to never give up on their dreams --- so that they will indeed become “the best” at what they do! He also touched each of their lives with his spiritual commitment to living their Christian faith every single day. He led by example not only for his family but through all his friends, co-workers, and acquaintances in his community. He was highly regarded, respectful and loved by all who knew him and his memory and his influence will never fade. Anthony Posillico was very “Big” on many levels and touched many of our lives in many extraordinary ways, he left an imprint on our hearts and our lives will never be the same.
In lieu of flowers donations in Anthony's memory would be appreciated to the following organizations.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Please join Anthony's family for his Mass of Christian Burial at St. Brigid's RC Church via link below