Anthony "Tony" Biondo

Anthony “Tony” Biondo, 93, of Fairfield, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Anthony was born on May 16, 1930 in San Antonio, Barcelona, Sicily, the son of Philip and Angelina Biondo. 

“Tony” was known by most as a barber on Pleasant Avenue in Fairfield.  His greatest accomplishment, however, was in the everyday-a loving husband and father to his family, a devoted man to his faith.

As a young boy in Sicily, instead of playing after school like most children, Tony served as an apprentice barber, sweeping floors and learning the beginnings of a trade he would spend the next 65 years of his life perfecting. During the war, he would give the American GIs haircuts at the neighboring Air Force base.  He did not have an easy childhood during those war years, but this adversity gave him the strength and wisdom to lead his life with perseverance, ingenuity, and great courage.

Following the war, Tony left his childhood home in Sicily to begin a new life in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  He reunited with his childhood neighbor who also moved from the same Sicilian town to Argentina with her family. Lucia Furno and Tony married beginning a life together that would become the foundation for all that came after.  Once granted permission to enter the U.S., they immigrated to Hamilton, Ohio, where Tony’s brother, John, lived.  John took him under his wing, helping him establish his trade in this community.

After getting his start with his brother, Tony eventually opened his own business in Fairfield, Tony Biondo’s Barbershop, on Pleasant Avenue, until joined by his son, Angelo, whereby he proudly renamed his shop, Tony Biondo and Son.

Many adjectives could be used to describe Tony: hard-working, intelligent, driven, fun-loving, talented, loyal, family-oriented, faithful, and wise.  He also fulfilled many roles: devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and family member, friend, self-taught musician, master barber/business-owner, founding member of the Italian-American society in Hamilton, faithful servant and steward of his beloved church, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.

Tony loved being surrounded by his loved ones, enjoyed his wife Lucy’s outstanding cooking and his own (very potent!) homemade wine, listening and playing his own music. He loved his band, The Internationals, playing guitar and accordion.  He was an avid gardener particularly cultivating and eating delicious figs. 

Tony is preceded in death and reunited in Heaven by his parents, siblings, his nephew, Danny Biondo, and dearest to his heart, his wife of 66 years, Lucia, who passed in 2020.  He is survived by his children, Philip and wife, Cathy Robbins, of Stonington, CT, their two children, Jee Hoon and Zi Qing, Angelo Biondo and his two sons, Anthony and Brooks of Fairfield, his daughter, Angelica Persiani and her three sons, Joseph and Allison Kuhar, Anthony and Lindsey Walters, and David Persiani. Other cherished family members, Nancy Biondo of Hamilton, Rich and Marla Biondo of Fairfield, Johnny Biondo of Iowa, and brother-in-law, Nino and Cristina Furno of Coral Springs, Florida plus other cherished family members perhaps unmentioned but certainly not forgotten.

The Visitation will take place on Friday, October 20th, 2023 from 10:00-11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, immediately followed by 11:00 am Mass at Sacred Heart, 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield, Ohio with Father Larry Tharp, Celebrant.  Christian burial will immediately follow at St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Hamilton, Ohio.

The Family would like to extend our deepest appreciation and love to our father’s devoted caregiver of four year, Brenda Moore, his hospice team at Queen City Hospice, doctors, neighbors, friends, loyal customers, and all others’ generous outpouring of support during his life and death.  Your kindness has been a tremendous comfort to us for which we are so grateful.

A life well-lived. An angel in heaven, reunited with the love of his life.

We will deeply miss you, Dad.

Until we meet again…. Salute!

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