Anthony Joseph Sowa's Obituary
SOWA, Anthony Joseph (Tony) 86, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2017 surrounded by family. He was born in Duryea, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Josephine Sowa. He served in the United States Air Force for 4 years and attended the University of Scranton upon his discharge from the service. Eventually, he spent his career working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, spending many years as the Administrator for the VA Medical Research Program.
During his tenure in the Air Force, he was stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, where he met his to be wife, Angie. They married in 1951 and were transferred to Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Florida, where their daughter Gwendolyn was born.
After discharge from the Air Force, they moved briefly to Pennsylvania where he attended the University of Scranton. Eventually, they moved to the Washington, DC area and he began his career working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC. and rooting for the Washington Redskins Football team and the University of Maryland Terrapins, daughter Gwen’s Alma Mater. After retirement, he and his wife travelled extensively throughout Europe, the United States, including Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. He enjoyed skiing in the Pennsylvania mountains. Eventually he and Angie moved to Florida where both have volunteered as Travel Group Leaders for several travel agencies. He will best be remembered for making people laugh with his jokes. He made many friends taking groups on bus trips to many different places. Being a member of the Left Allamanders Square Dance Club he made many friends who loved to party and attend square dance conventions all over the United States. He served as an officer for many organizations, such as Left Allamanders Club, AARP, NARFE, and others. He most enjoyed the summers that he spent with granddaughter Heather who used to spend many summers in Florida traveling from Maine each year.
Although he enjoyed traveling, his passion was for boating, fishing, football and golf. He loved living on the water and having his boat right outside tied to his dock. Together with his son-in-law, Doug, they spent many hours out on the boat fishing or maybe just enjoying the beautiful Florida sunsets. He loved his boats.
Football was also one of his favorite sports, and for 20 plus years he and his wife hosted Super Bowl parties in their home. He was always in charge of the football pool. He and his family were also season ticket holders for the University of South Florida football team, the Alma Mater of his granddaughter, Heather, and he loved tailgaiting prior to the games.
When he first moved to Florida he joined a golf league at Bay Pines Medical Center. Eventually he golfed for many years at the Tarpon Springs Golf Course and more recently he golfed at the Highland Lakes golf courses.
His most recent move to Dunedin exposed him to Golf Cart life and he was fortunate enough to be part of the Christmas Golf Cart Parade in December.
Anthony was affectionately known as "Pop-Pop".
He is survived by this wife Angie, wonderful daughter Gwendolyn, his son-in-law and buddy, Douglas Campbell, best in the world granddaughter, Heather Bellomo and husband Michael, little buddy & great granddaughter, Lydia Wildes, and several cousins, nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his name to: USF Foundation, Inc., USF Byrd
Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorder Center, 4001 E. Fletcher Avenue – 6th Floor, Tampa, FL 33613.
A Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Dunedin, on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 11:30 AM with a reception to follow.
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