Tony Sousa, 1933 – 2021
I was not a lifelong friend of Tony’s, but I knew him as a friend for more than fifteen years. During this time I learned much from him about being a better person as well as from his rich life experiences. That is why I frequently used the honorific Spanish title “Don” for him to suggest that he was a man of distinction and honor. In short, he was a gentleman, and he knew a lot. Besides, it seemed appropriate given his Portuguese heritage.
His recent death was not unexpected, but it was more difficult for me than expected. With his death we have lost a decent person, the kind whom we need to have with us more than ever. We’ve also lost a treasure trove of wisdom. For me, Tony, seven years my senior, was a mentor who taught me charity, patience, and good will. He was a wealth of information about so much: his ruminations about God and religions; his travel experiences around the world, flying one-eyed and landing his plane on the Georgia islands.
Tony, the son of “Captain Charlie,” a Portuguese shrimper, grew up in Fernandina, Florida. As a child he lost an eye in an accident but still went on to realize his dream of becoming a pilot, buying his own plane and flying for most of his life. He served 42 years as a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a career that took him across the United States and throughout Latin America, including a tour of duty with Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.
I’ll miss Don Antonio as a mentor and friend. I will think of him as I raise a whisky to him in the White Pine Saloon at Potlatch where he and I spent so much time together. We will all miss him.
My condolences to Judy and the family. He certainly was a character!
Thank you, so much, Pancho, for your wonderful tribute, which helps so much as I come to accept his passing. Is there any way I can forward this to my kids and other friends?
We have spent so many happy times with you and Betty (sometimes having to spend the night to avoid a DUI), and he was always so happy when you two could have your “man talks”.
Great tribute and we will continue to toast Tony at the Green Turtle when you come to Fernandina.
Pancho,
Tony would have really enjoyed this tribute! You captured his adventurous, honest and generous spirit so well. He was such a treasure and we are all better for having known him. He also thought very highly of you and Betty and told me so many times. He cherished his time visiting you at Potlatch!
Ashley Hope
(Judy’s daughter)
Thanks for your comments. We all know that Tony was a special person and will miss him. It falls to us to make sense of things; let’s us honor him by standing for those principles that he embodied.
I met Tony and Judy at your 70th birthday bash and had beers with him at your favorite bar in Dahlonega. I liked him very much, but I learned most of what I know about him from your reports on the get-togethers you had at Potlatch and at his home. While I didn’t know him well, I felt I did because of the way in which you talked about him. I know you will miss him greatly. Please give Judy our condolences. Good friends are few and far between!