Obituary of Anthony Falcone

Anthony “Tony” Falcone, 82, passed away peacefully on January 3rd, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in 1941 in Waterbury, Connecticut and graduated from Croft High School, Class of 1960. Following graduation, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Montana, 1961-1965, as a Protective Coatings Specialist.

At Malmstrom, he quickly excelled and was granted a top-secret crypto clearance to maintain the nuclear silos during the tense Cuban Missile Crisis. He married the love of his life Elizabeth “Betty” Gaudino at Mount Carmel Church in Waterbury, Connecticut in September of 1963. After the honeymoon, they returned to Malmstrom.

Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Connecticut and began working for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for 18 years in Southington where he was selected to be trained as a Heli-arc welder for their jet engines. Due to his skill and expertise, he earned his certification to work on the jet engine of Air Force One. He then invented innovative welding techniques and earned awards for his suggestions in quality improvement that were adopted as standard practice.

He viewed everything with a keen eye, was extremely detail oriented and a perfectionist. Always looking to excel, he pursued a civilian position in Quality Assurance with the Department of Defense.

He then transferred to Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida as a Quality Assurance Specialist and member of the 45th Space Wing, “The Range Rats” with a delegation to Nasa’s space shuttle program overseeing the retrieval and refurbishment of the solid rocket boosters.

He was proud to be a part of the space shuttle program for over 23 years earning numerous awards and commendations from his superiors and retiring in June 2004. He promptly went back to work driving VIP’s, dignitaries and press at the Kennedy Space Center where he was thrilled to meet Astronaut John Glenn and Coach Bobby Bowden. He retired a second time in 2019.

His number one passion was his “wonderful wife” Betty with whom he celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 28, 2023. His proudest achievement and greatest love was raising and watching his three children grow up. He was fully engaged in his children’s and grandchildren’s passions and was so proud of them. He was fiercely loyal and would be on hand at a moment’s notice to help anyone in need. He loved music and played the accordion. He was an avid New York Yankees fan although he would often be heard calling them “bums” when they didn’t play up to par. His hobbies included golfing, boating, fishing, bird watching and classic muscle cars. His love for the space program and the state of Montana endured all of his adult life. He returned to Montana several times and always spoke of his desire to live there again.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, his daughter Laura (Falcone) Jaconetta (Jim), his son Mark Falcone (Luann), his son Daryl Falcone (Jennifer). He leaves behind his grandchildren Matthew Jaconetta of Los Angelos, California, Elizabeth Jaconetta of Chesapeake, Virginia, Joseph and Michael Falcone of Rockledge, Florida who lovingly called him “Papa”. He also leaves numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

His wake will be held at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home, 5400 Village Drive, Rockledge, FL., 32955 on Sunday January 14th from 3-5pm. Funeral service immediately following from 5-6pm.

Internment with full military honors will take place Monday, January 15 at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US 1, Mims, Fl. 32754

The funeral procession will leave Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home at 8:30am for a 9:45am service. The funeral procession will be led by his sons driving his 2014 Plum Crazy Purple Dodge Challenger SRT, the car that he loved. In honor of this, the family will be wearing purple. Friends are welcome to do the same.

A celebration of Life reception will be held at the Grand Isle Community Clubhouse, 1910 Grand Isle Blvd., Melbourne, Fl. 32940 at 12:00 Noon following the burial. All are welcome to attend the wake, funeral service, burial and reception.