Obituary of Anthony W. Melchiondo

Anthony "Tony" William Melchiondo, 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 26, 2019. He was born August 12, 1921 in Trenton, NJ, to the late Martino Melchiondo and Constance Galullo (fm. Melchiondo, nee Festa) of Foggia, Italy. Tony graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1939. After briefly serving in the New Jersey National Guard, he was transferred into the 119th Medical Regiment in Trenton, NJ. He trained at Camp Dix, now known as Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. He entered into active service for World War II in 1940, included among those in the first invasion of North Africa. Tony served aboard a U.S. Army Transport ship, making numerous transatlantic crossings, serving in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters of Operation. He was honorably discharged in August 1945. Tony received the following awards and decorations: American Defense Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Service Medal and NJ Distinguished Service Medal. Tony entertained his family and friends with his many "war stories." In 2014, he was the 500th interviewee for the NJ National Guard Militia Museum's Oral History Project whose recordings are housed at the Museum's location in Sea Girt, NJ, and also filed with the Library of Congress Veterans' History Project in Washington, DC. https://www.nj.gov/military/museum/summaries/wwii/anthony-melchiondo/ Tony married the late Ruth Silcox Melchiondo in 1948 and they resided in Yardley, PA, for over 50 years. He went into the automobile business and became a successful, and legendary, dealer owning and operating Calhoun Motors in Trenton, NJ, for 40 years. After "retiring" and selling his business, Tony worked as a consultant for over 20 years, helping to streamline auto financing between several area banks and auto dealers. Tony was a member of the Trenton YMCA, The Trenton Club and the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was a member of the Trenton Country Club for over 50 years and was honored as a lifetime member in 2017. He served two terms on its Board as Director of Tennis and as the Club's Tennis Chairman for many years. He loved to travel, play tennis and spend time with his family. For years, he enjoyed organizing the tennis portion of the Chamber's and St. Francis Medical Center's annual golf & tennis outings and attending the U.S. Open, his weekly lunches and annual holiday dinner with his many friends. He is predeceased by his infant daughter Melissa Melchiondo, stepfather Martin Galullo, brothers Louis and Michael Melchiondo, Sr. and stepbrother John Galullo. He is survived by his sister, Anne Szymanski of California; stepbrothers, Raymond and Alphonse (Maria) Galullo of Hamilton, NJ; daughters Merilee Arbitell of Newtown, PA, Michele Vivian (Greg Doran) of Manchester, MA and Toni Coleman (Greg) of Cranbury, NJ; grandchildren Richard Arbitell (Marie) of Newtown, PA, Michael Arbitell (Lisa) of Allentown, NJ, Anthony Christopher "AC" and Samantha Vivian of Boston, MA and Andrew and Thomas Coleman of Cranbury, NJ and Tempe, AZ, respectively; and, great-grandchildren Courtney and Grace Arbitell of Allentown, NJ, as well as many nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be at FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, 17 South Delaware Avenue, Yardley, PA, on Saturday March 9, 2019 at 10 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at Noon. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made online to the NJTLT (National Junior Tennis and Learning Network of Trenton), njtloftrenton.com/donate. In the "Comments Box," please specify, "In Memory of Anthony Melchiondo." Or, you may mail your check to NJTLT, 949 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618, and write "In Memory of Anthony Melchiondo" on the memo line.