ANTHONY A. “TONY” CARNICELLI
10/18/37 – 10/21/26
Anthony A. Carnicelli, known fondly as Tony, passed away peacefully at 89 years old on October 21, 2026, after a courageous battle with myelofibrosis. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Tony lived a life full of love, hard work, and dedication to his family and community.
Tony was the beloved son of Gaetano and Iolanda Carnicelli and grew up with his sisters Joanne Moore, who predeceased him, and Lena Carnicelli Perfetti. His early life was marked by a strong sense of duty, which led him to enlist in the Navy after high school. He served with pride in San Diego and Japan, cherishing the memories and friendships he made during his time in the service. In 1961, Tony married the love of his life, Valerie, and over the next 64 years, they built a family in Braintree and a life rich with adventure and joy. Together, they made countless memories at their beloved Woods Lake in Middleboro, and cherished their time on the water at the Situate Yacht Club, Bay Pointe Marina, and the Metropolitan Yacht Club.
Tony was a man of many talents and an indefatigable worker. He began his career in various roles, from dress designing for Baron Peters to working with his father-in-law at D.R. Campbell Machine Company. In 1970, Tony founded Imperial Plating Company, an electroplating business he successfully ran for over two decades. His dedication and hard work allowed him to provide for his family and ensure that his children could attend college—a source of immense pride for him. Even after retiring from his business, Tony continued to keep busy, working for AMF Metal Finishing and later at Quirk Automotive until the age of 86. He found joy in the friendships he forged and the sense of purpose that his work provided. Tony was a member of several community organizations, including the Braintree Jaycees, Braintree Sons of Italy, Braintree Rifle and Pistol Club, and the Metropolitan Yacht Club. He was an avid card player, with poker being his favorite pastime. In his later years, he enjoyed playing canasta at the Senior Center. Tony was also known for his handy skills, always ready to fix anything from cars to household items himself.
Above all, Tony was a devoted family man. He is survived by his loving wife Valerie (Campbell), his daughter Pamela Ryan and her husband Beau, his son Mark Carnicelli and his wife Amy (Driscoll), and his cherished grandchildren, Laurel (Ryan) Herrick and her husband Brandon, Lindsay (Ryan) Bullock and her husband Samuel, Madison (Carnicelli) Denaro and her husband Daniel, and Benjamin Carnicelli. Tony also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.
Tony's quiet demeanor and dry sense of humor endeared him to all who knew him. He found great satisfaction in his family and home, which he loved dearly. He was so proud of his grandchildren and their many accomplishments. Aside from his family, Tony loved his dogs, Dee-Jai, Pepe and Bandit. They brought great joy to his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Tony's memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts so that other families may enjoy additional time with their loved ones following a difficult Cancer diagnosis. The family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude Dr. Nancy Kaddis at Dana-Farber, the amazing nurses at Dana-Farber (especially Jeanne Hicks), to the doctors and nurses at South Shore Hospital and Accent Care in Milton for their compassionate care during Tony's final days.
Tony's legacy of love, resilience, and dedication will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A funeral service will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 44 School St., Quincy, MA on Wednesday, November 4th at 10 am. Following the service, Tony will be interred at Bourne National Cemetary at 12:45 pm.