Anthony Christopher Constantino
December 17, 1929 ~ October 29, 2018
Resided in:
Fletcher, North Carolina
Anthony Christopher Constantino passed away on October 29, 2018 at the CarePartners Solace Center in Asheville.
Anthony was born in Blairsville, PA on December 17,1929, and moved to Miami, FL after receiving a full football scholarship to play for the University of Miami. He proudly served his country in the US Army, and then became a teacher, coach and mentor to many. He spent most of his career at South Dade High School in Homestead, FL before retiring in 1986 and moving to Western North Carolina.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dolores Gomez Constantino; his four children, sons Tony and Vince and two daughters Gina Mignone Newnam and Lisa Maloof, as well as eleven grand children and ten great grandchildren.
A Mass Of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:00 PM on Thursday, November 1 at St Barnabas Roman Catholic Church and family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 2:45-3:00 PM and then again at the home immediately following the Mass. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 10 AM on Friday November 2 in the Chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the CarePartners Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, St Jude Children Hospital (www.stjude.org) or St Barnabas Roman Catholic Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden, NC 28704.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family
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Very sad news, Pud always treated me well. Prayers sent!
My deepest condolences to the family. Coach Constantino had such an influence on the lives of many players and friends over the years. I know he will be truly missed as Heaven gains another angel.
Saddened by Pud’s passing but we have many wonderful memories of good times! Love ❤️ And Prayers
A long time friend whom I greatly admired. We were adversaries in the great sport of wrestling but solidified our friendship through years of officiating together including three state tournaments. ‘Pud’ was the consummate family man and was a great role model for young and old.
I extend my sincere condolences to the Constantino family.
I will have a remembrance segment in the Wrestling Hall of Fame program in August, 2019.
I love you grandpa. I’ll miss you but I’m glad you’re at peace now.
Did your grandpa teach PE at So Miami Jr High in 1962-65? If so, he was my coach, and I want to share with the family his influence on my career and life. SMJH 1962-65, Southwest High 1965-68, Tulane University 1968-82. I am a swim coach. He made the difference in my life’s path. Dana Abbott, katycoachswim@yahoo.com
Saddened to hear of the passing of Coach C, he taught me many life lessons, the greatest one being the importance of family. My condolences to the Constantino family, I know what a loss this must be.
Pud: you will be missed. I am a better person by having spent time with you. It was always fun being with you even when you yelled at me for a call I made against one of your wrestlers, of course any call against any of your boys was a wrong one. We were a good team when we officiated together of course we had to carry Walt. The Lord must have needed a very good coach so he called you home to help him out. Prayers for you. I will have a Mass for you at Espiritu Santo church in Safety Harbor Fl. Good bye to the Brenizer Rocket.