ANTHONY DECRISTOFORO, JR.
March 27, 1931 — May 1, 2021
Anthony DeCristoforo, Jr. passed away on May 1st at the age of 90. He was the son of Italian immigrant parents, Antonio and Anna DeCristoforo. Antonio immigrated alone in 1906 at the age of 14 from the province of Abruzzo. His only formal education was third grade in Italy. Anna was born in Barrafranca, Sicily, and came with her family to Chicago where she met and married Antonio after his discharge from the United States Army in 1919. She never attended school. Their first born, Joseph, was an Army Captain in World War 11 and in Korea and was chief deputy district attorney in Sacramento before entering private practice with Anthony for ten years. Joseph went on to become a Superior Court Judge and then Justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
Anthony, known as “Tony”, was born in Lodi, California on March 27, 1931 and moved with the family to Sacramento in 1933. He attended Washington Grammar, Sutter Jr. High, Sacramento High and graduated from the University of California in Berkeley and Santa Clara University Law School. He played high school Manhart Legion and Cal baseball briefly and was senior class president, student body boys’ vice president and represented Sac Hi at California Boys State. Before his graduation from law school, he served two years in the U.S. Army and was with the Staff Judge Advocate in Austria and Italy.
After practicing law for 26 years, Tony was appointed Superior Court Judge in 1985 where he handled virtually every civil and criminal assignment available to judges. He had an impressive track record for settling cases and bringing parties together. After retirement in 1999, he continued to preside over jury trials as an assigned judge until he devoted his time exclusively to arbitration and mediation before enjoying total retirement. During and after his practice of law he became involved in various community service activities including Mercy Hospital Foundation Board, U.C. Davis Hospital Leadership Council and Jesuit High School Board of Trustees. He was a member of the International Academy of Trial Judges and California Judges Association. He belonged to Del Paso Country Club for many years and achieved lifelong membership in the Sutter Club. He was a member and past president of the Grandfathers Club and enjoyed the comradery of the Over the Hill Gang. In addition, he was elected to the La Salle Club Baseball Hall of Fame.
Of greatest importance to him, however, was his wife and family. He considered himself the most fortunate man alive for the happiness he shared with his beautiful wife of 57 years. He married Elinor Templeton on June 29, 1963. And they were blessed with four wonderful children and five grandchildren: Lora (Cindy) and Max, Cara, Tony (Michele) and Elise and A.J., and Joe (Theresa) and Reese, and Joe’s daughter, Cathy. The family met often and regularly and agreed those occasions were the best and most fun gatherings of all their activities. Tony cherished all of his friends-old and new and lived by the mantra “the more the merrier” and was always a gracious host.
Tony loved to cook, grow tomatoes and travel. He and Eli, and at various times their children and grandchildren, traveled extensively in various parts of the world, measuring stays from India, Dubai, Singapore, Tahiti and Hawaii, to Rio and Buenos Aires, to Ireland, Scotland, England, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Eastern Europe, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Morocco and of course Italy which they visited over twenty times staying with dear friends in Viareggio.
Among the expected elements of enjoyment brought by travel, Tony and Eli appreciated the great fortune we have by living in America. His parents came to this country penniless and uneducated. They succeeded in retail business only to lose everything to Chicago hoodlums when their house was blown up and their lives threatened at gunpoint. They came to California and again were successful raising grapes in Lodi only again to lose everything to the Great Depression. Resiliency and determination again prevailed in Sacramento when his father, by now working and tending his own bar, built and established low cost housing units, now known as Loaves and Fishes. All was accomplished without financial assistance from outside sources. They were too proud to accept charity and too determined to make it on their own. Tony’s parents instilled the values of dignity, kindness, character and education to their sons. Both boys became judges.
August summers at Lake Tahoe were a highlight hosting friends of all ages, water skiing, barbecues, wine and tall tales. Fall Saturdays brought out the Blue and Gold starting with tailgates and ending at Club Pheasant. Whether it was coaching little league or timing swim meets, Tony was the proud and enthusiastic father and grandfather. His family and friends and most of all, the love of his life Eli, brought him immeasurable joy. Tony and Eli’s deep and abiding love for each other has been a beacon to their family. May our Tony, magnificent Husband, Father, Papa, Grampa rest in peace until we meet again. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
A vigil will be held on Friday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the chapel of St. Mary Cemetery, 6509 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento. The funeral will be on Saturday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 1333 58th Street in Sacramento. A reception will follow elsewhere. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to a charity of your choice.
Please sign the guest book at lodinews.com/guestbook.