Anthony “Tony” Lucci, 88

| June 19, 2010 | Around Medford | No Comments

LUCCI, Anthony “Tony” Of Medford, formerly of Everett, on June 17.

Beloved husband of Camille (Pizzano). Loving father of Stephen Lucci of Medford, Patricia Bagarella and her late husband Ronald of Everett and Debra Ryan and her husband Richard of Medford. Loving brother of Florence Ciardello of Everett and the late Robert and Ralph Lucci, and Eleanor Joyce. He is survived by his three loving grandchildren, April Obremski, Christie Pace and Matthew Ryan, and two loving great grandchildren, Jason and Jaxon Pace, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral from the Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, 331 Main St., EVERETT, on Tuesday, June 22, at 8:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at St Francis Church, Medford at 10 a.m. Relatives & friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours are Monday only 4-8 p.m.

Donations in Tony’s memory may be made to the M Club, C/O Medford High School, 489 Winthrop St., Medford, 02155 or the E Club of Everett, PO Box 490135, Everett, MA 02149. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Tony was a longtime owner of Medford Square Sporting Goods. Complimentary valet parking at Main St. entrance. Rocco – Carr – Henderson Funeral Home 1-877-71-ROCCO.

Medford sports icon Tony Lucci owned a Medford Square sporting goods store for more than fifty years. In addition to outfitting thousands of Medford Mustangs over the years, Lucci also did business with professional sports teams. Up until just a few years ago, Lucci and his wife worked in the store everyday.

“Tony supplied many ICL teams for decades. Beloved in the area and a friend to all players, the location in front of where Medford Sq. Sporting Goods was located is now officially known as ‘Tony Lucci Corner.’  He will be missed,” said a statement on the Intercity League Baseball website.

Lucci literally has a basement full of awards. He is the recipient of the Medford Citizen of the Year award in 1981 and was recognized with the Schaeffer Pen Award from the New England Hockey Writers Association, to name just two. In 2007 Lucci was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame.

“Tony is the epitome of the entrepreneur who through ability, determination and hard work converted the smallest business into the largest individually owned sporting goods and team outfitters enterprise in New England,” wrote the Hall of Fame Committee.

Lucci has an award named after him that is given out every year to a deserving Mustang athlete at the annual M-Club Banquet.

The Tony Lucci Golden Mustang award honors a person who has been an outstanding supporter of Medford High School sports. It is presented to someone who has made loyal and unselfish contributions to the student athletes at MHS. Lucci, who was present at this year’s M-Club Banquet, was a businessman, a gentleman, and long-time friend of every kid who wore the blue and white uniform.

Past award recipients include Lucci (’94), Steve Miller (’92), Joe Grande (’93), Bill Carr (’95), Paul McKeon (’96), Sal Todaro (’97), Joe Barletta (’98), Ron Zampell (’99), Marty Murphy (’00), Paul Mattatall (’01), Bobby Dorrington (’02), Lena DiGiantommaso (’03), Ron Richard (’04), Ricky Avenell (’05), John McAdam (’07), Jack Dempsey (’08), and Mark Smith (’09). Long-time coach and teacher Lou Ruggiero, a friend of Lucci, won the award this year.

– Information compiled by Allison Goldsberry, including from legacy.com and Salvatore Rocco and Sons Funeral Home.