Obituary of Anthony Panico

Anthony Panico "Tony" 89 of Linwood, completed his passage on this Earth and was called to his final judgment on October 29, 2018. Anthony was born in Pleasantville on September 25, 1929 just in time to greet the Great Depression. At age 8, his family moved to Chelsea Heights in Atlantic city. His early youth was spent on the back bays where he learned to respect all aspects of Nature. He had been a citizen of Linwood since 1977. Anthony lived and enjoyed a variety of career experiences along his journey. His public educational experience began in Pleasantville at the original Woodland Avenue Elementary School and finished when he graduated from ACHS in 1947. His college career began in 1948 at Georgetown University majoring in Mathematics. In 1949, he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering (1952). He continued his education at Columbia University earning an MS in Mechanical Engineering in 1957. His formal education ended in 1978 with an MA in Education (Supervision & Curriculum Development) from Glassboro State. His military experience began when he volunteered for the draft during the Korean War. He entered the US Army as a Private E-1 and spent two years on active duty in the Ordnance Corps stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. He completed his active service attaining the rank of Specialist 3rd class. He applied for, and received, a direct commission as a 1st Lieutenant and spent the next eight years as an Ordnance Officer in the Active Reserves. Anthony was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain, US Army OrdC in June of 1964. Anthony entered the engineering profession as a Graduate Student trainee for Westinghouse Electric Corp. He spent almost 15 years in both Industry and Government as an Engineer, and Mathematician. He received many outstanding evaluations and the one that he was most proud of was the Triple Outstanding evaluation that he received while at the Naval Air Test Facility, NAS Lakehurst, NJ. Anthony was also a retired Professional Engineer licensed in NJ. He was awarded one patent during his professional scientific career. His most rewarding career was that of an Educator. He spent 28 years as a Secondary Teacher of Physics and Mathematics in the Atlantic City School system. In 1973 he was appointed Chairman of the ACHS Science Department supervising 15 teachers.. He ended his educational career experience as the District Supervisor of Math and Science and formally retired in 1992. He also served as an Adjunct Instructor for many semesters at both the ACC, and Stockton. His last assignment was helping students in the Math Lab at ACC. Many young students in Linwood were tutored by Anthony. At the age of 70, Anthony decided to hang everything up and devoted his remaining years to his church, golf, carving, gardening, and walking his faithful Yellow Lab Honey Bun. Anthony was a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus with All Saints Council #6277. But the most gratifying experience was the 56 years that he spent with his loving wife Mary Lou (nee Mousley). They married in June of 1964, and she was gracious and patient enough to put up with Anthony's shenanigans for all of those years. Their marriage resulted in the birth of a wonderful son, Anthony Allen of Somers Point (Vicki) and a beautiful daughter, Susan Marie of Newark, DE. Many enjoyable moments were spent with his beautiful wife and his wonderful children. Anthony once summed up his Life as a series of unheralded and insignificant events and he enjoyed every moment of it. Anthony loved Life and all that it had to offer. He respected all living things and continually marveled at Life's many blessings. He considered Life to be one of the greatest gifts the God gave to Mankind. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated for Anthony Panico 10:30am Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church 724 Maple Avenue, Linwood, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to call at his viewing from 9:30am at the church. The Rite of Committal will be offered at Holy Cross Cemetery, Route 40 in Mays Landing following Mass. Arrangements by the Gormley Funeral Home LLC, AC.