Anthony J. “Tony” Pietro

Tony was born June 21, 1930 at his childhood home in Dunkirk, NY, the son of the late Joseph and Josephine (Crise) Pietro.

Following High School, Tony attended Norwich University where he graduated with a Civil Engineering degree in 1953. He then joined the U.S. Army and served as an Army Pilot stationed for the most part in Panama and Brazil where he thank-fully survived a plane crash to come home and live a long life making a difference in may lives. He served in the Army until 1957 when he returned home to Dunkirk and worked in construction.

In September 1959, he married the late Evalyn (Seybold) and raised five daughters who he loved dearly.

In 1960, Tony’s father Joseph and father-in-law Anthony Seybold became business partners and built and opened the Quality Inn Vineyard on Vineyard Drive in Dunkirk. Tony was the manager of the Quality Inn which started out as a 29 room motel and small coffee shop and bar. It was expanded into a 39 room motel and dining room (referred to as the Vineyard Restaurant) which became the best loved restaurant in the area. Tony later became the owner and continued to manage the motel/ restaurant with the help of several family members in addition to the Vineyard Country Club, Dunkirk Motel, and Joseph Anthony’s Banquet facility until he retired in 1995. Due to Tony’s dedication and hard work, the Vineyard enjoyed a loyal clientelle (and was so popular that it was even mentioned in the Dine and Dash episode of “That 70’s Show”) and staff who often said he was the best boss they ever had, although tough, he cared about his employees both professionally and personally and left a lasting impression.

Although, Tony spent many waking hours managing the businesses, he was a devoted family man who treasured his five daughters, LuAnn, Lisa, Toni Marie, Laurie, and Diana and several grandchildren; was a loving older brother to 4 sisters and 2 brothers and uncle to many nieces and nephews. In his “down” time he enjoyed building model airplanes, often flying them (and sometimes crashing them!) in the open field at Fredonia State College Campus.

The past several years Tony was cared for by his daughters and most recently the wonderful and caring staff on 1A at the Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Tony is survived by four of his daughters Lisa (Joseph) Jasinski of Syracuse, NY, Toni Marie (Tom) Sawyer of Orchard Park, NY, Laurie Pietro of Rochester, NY and Diana (Jamie) Hubbard of Fredonia, NY; grandchildren and step-grandchildren Amanda, Kevin, and Michael Rickard, Tyler and Zachary Buckley, Hannah and Greta Jasinski; Aaron (Alycia) Sawyer, Jamie (Madison), Gunnar, and Zane Hubbard; great grandchildren and step great- grandchildren Madison Caccamise, Kayla and Jackson Sawyer, and Cameron, Oliver, and Alice Hubbard.

Also surviving are two brothers Louis (Angela) Pietro of Phoenix, AZ and James (Barbara) Pietro of Dunkirk, NY and two sisters Antoinette (“Net”) Snyder of Dunkirk, NY and JoAnn (Terry) Niebel of Fredonia, NY. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, Tony was predeceased in death by his oldest daughter LuAnn in 1976, niece Rebecca (“Becky”) Snyder in 1992, grandson Jacob Jasinski in 1995, brother-in-law Andrew Snyder, the mother of his children Evalyn (Seybold) in 2009, two sisters Rose Pietro in 2001 and Barbara (Pietro) Riolo in 2016.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Holy Trinity Church. Full Military Honors will be accorded by the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council Honor Guard. Calling hours will be held Friday, December 20 from 4-7 p.m. at the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home.

In life, Tony is remembered by many as being the kindest and most generous person who was always willing to help those in need and especially loved and cared for his family, friends, and employees. In his remembrance, his family is requesting in lieu of flowers, donations to be made in his memory to WNY Heroes Inc. Visit WNYheroes.org for more information.