Obituary of Anthony F. Combopiano

Anthony F. Combopiano, 87, of Binghamton passed away Tuesday, March 27, in Wilmington, NC after a brief illness. He was predeceased in 2015 by his beloved wife of 56 years, Helene. He is survived by his three children: son Ronald and his wife Veronica of Boiling Springs Lake, NC; daughter Carla and her husband James Hickey of Allentown, PA; and daughter Jan of Brooklyn; six grandsons: Liam, Seamus, & Rowan Hickey and Quincy, Michael & Marcus Moss; two granddaughters: Tamaira & Tia Moss; his brother Frank and his wife Jen Combopiano of Rome, NY; and his brother Charles Combopiano of Port Orange, FL; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and extended family. After graduating from Rome Free Academy in 1947, Tony worked for Rome Copper Wire before joining the Army during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he used the GI Bill to earn a degree from Utica College of Syracuse University, where he met Helene, and they married immediately upon their joint college graduation in June 1959. He became the editor of The Mid-York Weekly in Hamilton, NY in the early 1960s. He later went on to earn a Master's Degree in Social Work from Marywood University and changed careers to become a geriatric social worker for the Binghamton State Hospital until his retirement in 1995. He was also very active in the National Association of Social Workers, eventually becoming the president of the New York State chapter of NASW. Tony had an intense curiosity about the world, which led he and Helene to travel extensively, visiting every continent, except Antarctica. He loved going to the movies, the theater, museums, and most especially, jazz concerts. He wrote dozens of letters to the editor, encouraging changes he thought would make a safer and more beautiful world. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Highland Avenue, Binghamton, Tuesday at 12 noon. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Tuesday from 10:30 am until 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Anthony's memory may be made to either NASW-NYS (188 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210) or the Wounded Warriors Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org).