Anthony C. Altomare, a.k.a Tony Altimore, 74, a lifelong Stamford CT resident and retired chief lifeguard for the city, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at Mediplex of Stamford. He died of heart failure, according to his family.
Born July 24, 1928, in Stamford, he was a son of the late Frank and Pauline Vescio Altomare. Altomare was the chief life guard for the city of Stamford for about 25 years. He rescued people from the channel at West Beach and Cummings Park Beach in Stamford. He also was a certified American Red Cross swimming instructor and instituted free swim lessons for local children at West Beach about 45 years ago. He served in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Division from 1946 to 1948.
He was a professional wrestler known as "The Sicilian" with the World Wrestling Federation for about 25 years. He and partner Lou Albano formed The Sicilians in the late 1960s, who went on to defeat Spiros Arion & Arnold Skoaland for the United States Tag Team title, which later became the WWWF World Tag Team title.
He is survived by his wife, Mollie Gawitt Altomare of Stamford; a son, Brian A. Altomare of Jupiter FL; a daughter, Donna A. Bruno of Stamford; two brothers, Peter B. Altomare of Stamford and Robert P. Altomare of Greenwich; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Madeline Altomare. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated February 22 at St. Gabriel Church, 914 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Burial followed in Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.
(From the Stamford Connecticut Advocate)
