Anthony "Tony" Poggi

Anthony "Tony" Poggi an Italian man through and through, who deeply adored his wife.

Ti amo, our sweet Tony…incomparable Husband, Dad, and Papa!

Together with our daughters Jennifer and Laura, it is with immeasurable love and profound sadness that I share our loss and a few captured moments in remembrance of the love of my life. Tony now holds half of my heart and a love letter from me for his beautiful journey. He will always be my home, my balance.

This proud Italian American boy, born to Antonio and Olga Felici Poggi, led a life well-lived, filled with endless love and respect for his family and heritage. He truly treasured every minute of every day, using every ounce of energy. And once again, Tony is the perfectly perfect model, showing us by leading the way.

My handsome Tony had a boyish grin that opened the dimple in his chin when he laughed. His peaceful and loving demeanor and piercing brown eyes melted my heart from the moment we met. Thanks go to Richard Weaver, former principal, who played cupid and hired me to “work closely with a Tony Poggi”. I wasn’t sure where that was going, but here I am today with a lifetime of beautiful memories. Tony said he was the lucky one when we met, but I have always known I was the lucky one—Tony’s girl for more than the 46 years. We were married at St. Augustine Cathedral on April 27,1979 and throughout the years, our life was full and wonderful, especially joyful and happy in raising our two daughters. Our three granddaughters made Tony smile with love and extreme happiness.

Tony had a heart of gold, a mind for learning and adventure, a spirit of deeply adoring his family, and a genuine interest in helping others. Those qualities were ingrained in his being. He loved connecting with people and being a part of something larger than himself. He purposely did not draw attention to himself, but instead supported everyone for the greater good. Part of Tony’s legacy is that he always found the good in people—always the master teacher. Because of who he was and how he lived, Tony left us and the world so much better.

Always choosing the best for himself and his family, Tony worked confidently toward perfection in everything he did, sometimes his own self-critic, but he accepted everyone else for who they were or what they did. As a perfectionist, Tony had a habit of rewriting notes, especially each day during his undergraduate and post-graduate studies. As a learner, he said he could review his notes to make the best connection from notetaking (hands) to memory (brain), and his hands were always moving. His boundless energy caused him to overthink, his mind ever challenging a pause to critique possibilities. Because of his way of thinking and continually researching, Tony became a trusted adviser to those who sought his recommendations about so many things in life.

Tony had a wealth of experience. Once he completed his bachelor’s in Spanish, Tony immediately landed his first job. When he arrived at the interview, thinking it was for a high school teaching position, he laughed to learn he would instead be a 4th grade teacher in a school near his hometown. Tony took the job, loved his students, and spent the year giving those little ones his best. The school appreciated Tony and offered him a second-year contract for high school, but he returned to the University of Iowa as graduate teaching assistant in Spanish. After completing his master’s program, he went back to his hometown as a high school Spanish teacher in his former school. Wherever he was in the U.S., Tony stayed active with his university fraternity Sigma Pi and thought of them as brothers.

During summer breaks, Tony, always the traveler, backpacked through Europe. He was especially proud of connecting to his roots and landing for a month or more with both sides of his family in Italy. Tony laughed when he talked about one uncle taking him to all the churches he could find, while another uncle took him to all the bars in the area. The aunts fed him. Tony felt drawn to return to Italy frequently, his second home. Throughout his life, Tony was the family connection between both sides of his family in Italy and his family here in the U.S. Generations became forever connected through his love.

When we married, Italy was the first place he wanted us to share and explore. Over the years we made many trips there with our little blue-eyed blond girls in tow. We experienced an audience with the Pope, visited the U.S. Ambassador to Italy at the Embassy in Rome, stood up for a cousin for his wedding, and enjoyed the lovely hospitality from family and their friends. During those experiences, our daughters learned Tony’s home dialect, traveled the countryside and major cities, enjoyed historical walks, ate lots of pasta, served grappa and cappuccino, played cards with cousins, and visited the family cemeteries—all the while talking with their hands and using Italian gestures just like their dad.

Tony loved to cook…and eat. He had his special recipe for life, always giving it his all. The Italian phrase “Vivi bene” in our kitchen guided us in enjoying simple pleasures. Whether relaxing on the deck in South Haven, tending his garden of herbs, caring for the red roses he presented me each day, or listening to Andrea Bocelli and opera played loudly throughout our home, it was Tony’s love of life, love for family and friends, an accomplished day, a colorful plate of delicious pasta, and a glass or two of wine that were the main ingredients for his life well-lived.

With pride of knowing his roots, Tony advanced his Italian heritage here at home. He became a founding member of the Sons and Daughters of Italy, now the Kalamazoo Italian American Club. He loved participating in those activities, especially when making his signature aglio e olio for the sauce contests. Tony served on the board in various roles for many years. He was always so happy to be involved in anything Italian.

For work, Tony came to Kalamazoo as a Spanish professor at Western Michigan University. Not one to sit still for long, he also worked as a contracted instructor for the Upjohn Company and as an instructor and counselor for the Upward Bound Program at WMU. Later, he was a teacher in the adult education program at Paw Paw Schools and an adjunct instructor for Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Respected for his experience, Tony served on the board of the Michigan Reading Association and provided expertise in literacy for the Michigan Department of Education.

Tony taught Spanish and English at Lawton High School, the school among the vineyards. During his tenure, he directed yearly student workshops in Mexico and Europe; directed drivers’ education programs; received “Teacher of the Year” recognition; served on the NCA evaluation team, Curriculum Council, and School Improvement committees; chaired the Foreign Language and English departments; advised Spanish Club, Ski Club, and Photography Club; assisted as the Kresa internet resource for his district; consulted as a resource for district, county, and state committees; and worked as a certified state road test examiner. As a certified online instructor for the Michigan Virtual High School, Tony was a pioneer in the field of technology. Through his efforts, his school district received an Ameritech grant, bringing the internet into the district and grant-funded technology for computers. Tony was instrumental in initiating the process by which Lawton High School was named a Michigan Blue Ribbon High School. The process culminated in the Rose Garden at the White House with the U.S. Department of Education recognizing Lawton as one of the nation’s top high schools. Tony was so very proud to be there and celebrate education at its best.

Given his educational experience and expertise, Tony became a Spanish curriculum specialist and the director of a federal bilingual grant for the Kalamazoo Public Schools. He also served as an adjunct instructor for Lake Michigan College and a world language consultant for Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. When the federal grant ended, Tony became an educational consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. He enjoyed traveling the state, working with superintendents and their central office staff to evaluate the “highly qualified” status of their teachers. Even after his retirement in 2017, school superintendents frequently contacted him for his guidance. Tony made a significant impact to education, as well as valuable contributions to teaching and learning.

As a master teacher, Tony provided rich opportunities for students to experience the world beyond their own familiar surroundings and, in turn, their lives were forever made richer. As a consummate leader, Tony led his travel groups with calmness and confidence, anticipating potential challenges. The travel benefits far outweighed the challenges of earthquakes in Mexico, student medical emergencies, or loss of a passport. Tony always returned home with exhausted, but excited teenagers. There are too many stories to share here, but Tony loved every minute of the travels, as well as the experiences his students came to cherish. Students, their families, and his colleagues respected him for his teaching style—high expectations with high levels of guidance and support. His teachings will live on in the lives of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. Our story will live on.

As Tony’s wife and on behalf of our beautiful daughters Jennifer Powlison and Laura Poggi, handsome son-in-law Brent Powlison and sweetheart granddaughters Olivia Powlison, Cecelia Powlison, and Gianna Poggi, I share how truly blessed we were to have had Tony in our lives and to have made such ever-lasting memories with him. Our family will faithfully continue his inspirational legacy, deeply love him always, and keep him forever in our hearts.

Ti amo, amore mio, sempre,

Pat

Cremation has taken place. Please join us for a Life Story Visitation on Thursday June 5 from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. A toast and time of sharing will follow. Mass will be celebrated on Friday June 6 at 10 AM at St. Augustine Cathedral. Celebrate Tony's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Italian American Club or St. Augustine Cathedral School.