Tony Lopez passed away Sunday after a long, courageous battle with the many complications of heart disease. He was 83 and was granted his last wish, which was to die at home in the company of loved ones, rather than in a hospital. Tony was loved by many for his devotion to family, his unconditional love of his children and grandchildren, and his engaging sense of humor, which often worked even on strangers. He loved nothing more than to get up and go somewhere with family members, whether the destination was the Monterey Peninsula, Europe, Mexico or Hawaii.
Tony grew up on Black Diamond Street in downtown Pittsburg, the youngest of six boys and girls born to Frank and Virginia Lopez, Spanish immigrants who ran a little grocery store near the site of what is now the New Mecca Restaurant. He attended local schools and found glory on the athletic fields at Pittsburg High, where he was a four-sport letterman with a reputation as a little guy who played with heart.
Tony was a running back for the 9-0 championship football team of 1944, a squad cheered on by a yell team that included his sweetheart and future wife of 63 years, Grace "Yay" Nuzzo. Tony is a member of Pittsburg High's Hall of Fame Team. In whatever sport he played, he was known as much for his scrappy determination and fierce competiveness as for his athletic talent.
As a lifelong provider for his family, Tony's first jobs included driving delivery trucks for Borden's Milk and Wonder Bread. He later went to work for a wholesale distributor of sundries and tobaccos, and was a familiar sight on local highways and byways as he made service calls in a not-so-fancy but very dependable Rambler Classic.
He was proud of the many accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, and always looked forward to get-togethers, especially during the holidays. He spent many hours tending to garden chores, loved watching ballgames on television and looked forward to the rough and tumble competition on the bocce courts.
As family members dug through decades of memories in boxes filled with photographs, they were reminded that Tony was often the life of the party, quick with a laugh or a smile, and never too shy to ham it up. Though he was a frugal man, and always on the hunt for a good bargain at a local store or restaurant, he was also a generous man, quick to offer unsolicited financial support to loved ones. One of his more recent missions was to provide love and moral support to his first-born, Debbie, during her years-long bout with cancer.
Tony's life can be described as, to borrow a phrase, a small garden, well-kept. He will always be remembered for his celebration of life's simple pleasures – food, fun, travel, friends and family.
He is survived by his loving wife, Grace; children Debbie, of Martinez, Steve, of Los Angeles and John, of Berkeley. His surviving grandchildren are Daniel Reimann of Mission Viejo, Jeffrey and Caroline Lopez of Los Angeles and Andrew Lopez of New Orleans.
Donations can be made in his name to the Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Avenue, Walnut Creek, Ca. 94597.