Anthony J. Vitale

Tony “Coach” Vitale was born in Detroit in 1939, the eldest of four children. In 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Gaylene (Broske) while in the U S Army stationed in Sinop , Turkey as a Morse Code Intercept Operator. Their first year together was spent at Vint Hill Farms in Warrenton, Virginia. They welcomed their first son, Michael Edward (Barbara) in 1961, and second son, Dean, three years later. Their daughter, Jae Kim Vitale Plawecki was adopted from Korea in 1976. Tony dearly loved his eight grandchildren: Darcy Crain, Michael Anthony (Hilary), Tyler, Ashley Willson, Autumn, RJ, Anthony, James, Drake Daunter, and great-grandsons Jacob and Britton. Tony was the eldest of four siblings: Gaetano (Tom) (Joann), Louis (Cheri), Nina (Bob) Ostrosky and loved his In-laws: Marilyn Orlando, Rosemary Coraci, and Diann Hadeed (Nab). He loved his many nieces and nephews and many, many friends. He is fondly remembered by former in-laws: Linda Hughes, Lisa Bachmann and Richard Plawecki . He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony S. and Francis Vitale.Tony worked at Ford Motor Company for thirty years, but the absolute love of his life after his family was coaching. He lost his hearing as a young adult, and was fitted with a cochlear implant about 1989 which improved his quality of life. Tony loved sports, baseball, basketball, track, cross country, football and etc. After serving as the Parks and Recreation Director for city of Dearborn Heights, he started his coaching career. There wasn’t a sport that he didn’t coach. Right after high school, he coached for a short time at his high school Alma Mater, Nativity of Our Lord, then went on to coach at St Linus CYO, Riverside, Divine Child, Bishop Burgess, Crestwood, Annapolis, Taylor Truman, Walnut Creek Middle School and Mercy High School. He ended his coaching career at Mercy High School as the throwing coach. He was honored for his coaching when he was inducted into the CYO Coaches Hall of Fame and a throwing field named after him at Mercy High School. Coaching was the love of Tony’s life; he also bowled, played softball, and umpired during his athletic days. He suffered his first heart attack on the Taylor Truman football field at 47 years of age. His doctor said he was an “anomaly” Tony and Gay continued an active life traveling with their motor home, cruising, and other vacations. The highlight of most summers was a week-long stay at Camp Dearborn in Milford, MI with Gaylene’s family—now counting thirteen tents. Visitation will take place Friday, November 2 from 4 pm to 8 pm at Turowski Funeral Home, 25509 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights 48127. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 3 at 10 am at St. Linus Catholic Church, 6466 N. Evangeline, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Athletic Department at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills or his Cochlear Support Group in care of Gaylene Vitale.