Antonino Cannistraro

   Antonino Cannistraro woke up in the arms of his Heavenly Father on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Antonino was known as "Tony" to his American friends and family, and as "Nino" to his Italian friends and family. He was born to Michelangelo and Emanuela (Tascone) Cannistraro in Aragona, Sicily, on August 21, 1938.
    Tony was a beloved husband to his wife Gail, a wonderful father to his daughters Mandy and Barbara Ann, and the best "Nonno" ever to his grandchildren Julianna, Abigail and Jonathan. He loved his family and friends deeply and was a beloved brother to Giuseppina, Salvatore, Rosario, Giovanna and Carmelo. He was a cherished uncle to his nieces and nephews, and a true and steadfast friend. He had a generous heart, a contagious laugh and smile, and the most beautiful blue eyes.
    Tony emigrated to Germany in the late 1950's and then to Toronto, Canada, before arriving in
Waltham, Massachusetts in 1966. Wherever Tony went, he made lifelong friends. 
    On June 3, 1968, Tony met the love of his life, Gail Larson of Walpole Massachusetts, on a blind date. They married on November 3, 1968, raised two beautiful daughters, and lived many of their years together in Wareham, Massachusetts, where Tony built a home for his family with his own strong and gifted hands.
    In 2004 Tony and Gail moved to Southwest Florida, first to Cape Coral and most recently to Lehigh Acres.
    Tony was a gifted artisan and craftsman. He provided for his family through his stonemasonry, which he considered an art form, and he worked many years with the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3 in Boston. He and his family were proud of the work he did, especially at the John F. Kennedy Library and the Federal Building in Boston, and just prior to his retirement his work at the stunningly beautiful Rowe's Wharf and International Place in Boston.
    On August 14, 2016, Tony was baptized in the Gulf of Mexico in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a visible confirmation of his decision and commitment to follow Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, which he had made earlier that year. He volunteered drying pots and pans at Calvary Chapel Gulf Coast on Sundays after church and opened his home on Friday nights for Home Fellowship and Bible Study. He completed many volunteer projects over the years for his children's and grandchildren's school and church programs, cut and polished slate shingles for fundraisers at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and was always ready to lend a hand to those in need.
    Tony loved music and spent much of his time playing his guitar and piano. He was learning worship songs and hymns that he hoped to play with his Home Fellowship group. He loved the hymn "Come Thou Font of Every Blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace..." Tony was an avid reader and loved learning about history, geography and the sciences. 
    Tony's wife and daughters were blessed beyond measure in the past one and a half years to have a father who not only loved and cared for them deeply, but who also began praying with and for them and for all of his family members and friends. 
    As much as they are grieving and heartbroken by the passing of their husband, father and grandfather, Tony's family is rejoicing to know he is seeing His Lord and Savior face-to-face and that they will be reunited with him, when it is their time to depart this earth as well. They know that Tony longs for all his friends and family to experience the peace and joy of a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection.
    Tony is survived by his wife of 48+ years, Gail (Larson) Cannistraro of Lehigh Acres, Florida; his daughters Emanuela ("Mandy") Tramontozzi of Blairsville, Georgia, and Barbara Ann Cannistraro Brown of Lowell, Massachusetts; his grandchildren Julianna Grace Tramontozzi, Abigail Hope Tramontozzi and Jonathan David Brown; his brothers Salvatore and Carmelo Cannistraro; and his many nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.
    A Celebration of Tony's life will be held at Calvary Chapel Gulf Coast, 20991 Three Oaks Parkway in Estero, FL, on Saturday, August 19, at 2 p.m. The Celebration Service will be livestreamed at: | Calvary Chapel Gulf Coast.  An additional service will be planned in Massachusetts later this year. Please come prepared to share wonderful memories of Tony and to eat GOOD Italian pastry and biscotti.  Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to: Hope Community Outreach of SWFL, 17051 Jean Street, Suites 3 & 4, Fort Myers, FL 33967

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