Joseph Antonio Pombo
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…
Our beloved husband and father Tony passed away peacefully at home Friday morning. He was born Jose Antonio in Mt. Kisco, New York to Jose Matteo Pombo and Ella Hyatt Pombo. He married Jeanne Pergola in June of 1956 and received his commission to serve in the U.S. Air Force in 1958. Tony and Jeanne spent many wonderful years traveling with their six children and serving their country while stationed in Germany, Italy, Turkey, and several assignments stateside. Tony and Jeanne shared an extraordinarily deep love and bond that sustained and nourished their marriage and family over the years and distances.
Tony had an everlasting and ever-growing curiosity. He was always sincerely interested in learning new things and usually had insights to offer. He was supportive and relaxed about it at the same time. He had a huge heart and a great love for people. The key to his winsome enthusiasm was that he held on to his sense of wonder and never let it go. He had a way of making everyone understand they were important to him.
He loved to ski and was still skiing at the age of 83. He had the patience of a saint when teaching all of his children, and this was in the era of lace-up leather boots, cable bindings and rub-on wax. He never minded extended travel time to and from the ski hill. He genuinely believed that most people will do the right thing given the chance, and he was a very forgiving and understanding man.
After retirement Tony co-founded Total Quality Systems, a company focused on providing improvement to military equipment. Tony’s vision was of continuously improving the capabilities of our U.S. defense systems. He will be remembered by his professional colleagues and business associates for his irrepressible creativity which was reflected in the innovative designs of products and services delivered by TQS. Tony was the glue that held the company together during its formative years and struck partnerships that lasted for decades. He found pleasure in seeing associates of TQS reach their potential. Many owe their successful careers to Tony’s belief and investment in them.
Tony is survived by Jeanne, his wife of 68 years, and their six children: Karen (Bob) Pombo-Fritch, David (Wadeedah) Pombo, Stephen (Jean) Pombo, Mark Pombo, Maria (Bill) Rensel and Michael Pombo, and his sisters Marianna Daniels and Suki (Steve) Duhamel. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Nicole, Molly, Ben, Katie, Andrew, Brishen, Celina, Noel, Kai, Kalima and Christopher. Also, by six great grandchildren; Riley, Teagan, Kora, Bristol, Frances and Nora, and one great-great grandchild, Rory.
He’ll be remembered by his family for his loving devotion, patience, and humility.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24th in their home parish at Holy Family Catholic Church at 1100 E. 5550 S. in S. Ogden followed by inurnment at Leavitt’s Aultorest Memorial Park 836 36th Street, Ogden, Utah.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School water project.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.leavittsmortuary.com.