Anthony “Tony” Caezza, 90, of Santa Paula passed away on June 14, 2023. Tony was born on December 26, 1932, to Angelo and Gladys Caezza in Palms, California. Tony
had two sisters, Josephine (Hammons) and Gladys (Gardner).
Tony graduated from North Hollywood High School along with notable people such as Rusty Tamblyn. Tony was a mischievous teen and played pranks with Rusty not suitable for print!
At the age of 20, Tony joined the United States Navy where he served aboard the USS Los Angeles and was deployed on three tours during the Korean War. The USS Los Angeles was the first ship in the Korean War to receive enemy fire. Tony was honorably discharged in 1956 with the rank of Quarter Master 3rd class (E-4).
After he was discharged from the Navy, and before finding his calling as a firefighter, Tony worked several different jobs. He drove an ambulance, was a mail courier for City Hall, worked at a mechanic shop, and met his future wife at a roller-skating rink where he repaired the skates.
Tony met Elizabeth (Jimmy Lou) in the spring of 1956, and they were wed in September of the same year. Jimmy Lou will tell you it was not love at first sight for her and it took Tony some wooing to convince her to marry him. Tony often teased of needing to “train” Jimmy Lou in all things domestic and he ate plenty of burnt dinners in their first months of marriage.
In 1957, Tony applied to be a deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, but when he discovered he was going to be stationed and living in Piru, he withdrew his application. He then applied with and was hired by the Ventura County Fire Department and to his and Jimmy Lou’s
surprise was assigned in Piru anyway at Station 28. Tony was devoted to the Fire Department where he retired in 1988 as a Fire Prevention Officer. After two months of retirement, he went back to work in a part-time capacity as a plan checker. Jimmy Lou had a standing joke that she
made a deal with the fire department to keep Tony employed until he officially retired in 2018 after 61 years of service.
Tony’s passion for the Fire Department led to his involvement with the Southern California Foresters and Fire Wardens where he served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer.
Tony and Jimmy Lou settled down in Santa Paula in 1960 where they built their life together. Tony was a cherished and active member of his community. He served alongside Jimmy Lou as a 4-H leader and volunteer for over 40 years. His involvement with 4-H led to more volunteer work as a Junior Fair Board Advisor and appointed to the Ventura County Fair Board by Governor Deukmejian.
Tony also volunteered with Santa Paula FFA, San Buenaventura Parents’ Guild, as a Kiwanis member, and was a council member for Southern California Watershed. Tony was also an active parishioner at Saint Sebastian Catholic Church. His kindness and generosity extended to his
family, friends, and the organizations he held dear to his heart.
Tony loved life, and food! He was always up for making an Italian dinner or firing up the Santa Maria BBQ. He also loved to travel, with cruising being his preferred method. Tony had many fond stories of his travels with Jimmy Lou to Europe. His favorite place to visit was Barcelona.
Tony was always up for anything. If you even mentioned a date for a get together, out came the Forestry and Fire Wardens calendar from his shirt pocket and you were penciled in, or if it was important, penned in!
Tony had a soft spot for dogs, especially Labrador Retrievers, and owned many over the years. If
you visited Tony in the evenings, there was often a dog curled up near his chair where he would be absentmindedly giving them a scratch. He always had an ear to listen or a shoulder to lean on, but he never took himself too seriously. Often, if you looked over at him, he was looking back crossed eyed or making a face.
Accomplished in all he touched; Tony was most proud of his family. He and Jimmy Lou were inseparable for 67 years. Tony was the very proud father of 5 children, Michael (Lisa), Patrick, David, Matthew (Jennifer), and Angela.
Fondly known by his 11 grandchildren as “Pops”, Tony took his role seriously by loving and enjoying his grandkids. Tony loved to tease them! Whether it was asking them if they would like a timber float (water with a toothpick) or asking if they had a quarter for payment whenever they asked him for anything. They learned much from him and his wisdom and will miss him dearly.
Tony is survived by his wife, Jimmy Lou, 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated on Thursday morning, July 20, 2023, at 10am in Saint Sebastian Catholic Church, 235 North 9th Street, Santa Paula. The rite of committal and burial will follow with Ventura County Fire Department Honors in Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Road, Santa Paula. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Saint Bonaventure High School, Ventura. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.