Anthony Joseph Fucinaro

Fucinaro remembered for dedication to family, community
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About 1,000 people came to St. Gerald's Catholic Church Sept. 2 to pay their final respects to Anthony Joseph Fucinaro (Tony), 68, a fellow businessman, volunteer firefighter, active Catholic church member, American Legion member, devoted family man and long-time Ralston resident.

He died Aug. 29 at an Omaha hospital after a year-long battle with cancer.
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Tony was born March 31, 1935 in Ralston, the youngest of eight children.He was 13 when his father died and he worked hard to help his older brother, Don, on the family farm in Ralston.

"Our roots for moving dirt are in Ralston,' Don said."Our dad graded roads around Ralston and moved snow.'

At a very early age, Tony could be seen helping with truck gardening and farming in Ralston, Don said."He always had a love for running machinery on the farm.'

The brothers later served together in the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan after Tony had graduated from Omaha South High School.

Tony and Joan Marino were married on June 6, 1959 and they raised four children in the Ralston area.
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After accepting positions with local contracting firms, Ed Miller and Sons Excavating Co. and Conden-Cunningham, Tony founded Fucinaro Excavating Co. in 1963.His brother Don joined him in 1970 and the company has grown to employ more than 50 people.

Fucinaro Excavating Co. has worked on hundreds of local area construction projects including St. Joseph's Hospital, Bergan Mercy Hospital, many schools, Henry Doorly Zoo, numerous highway and interstate projects and many more.

His family was among the founders of St. Gerald's Catholic Church in Ralston and was active in building the new church at 96th and Q streets.Tony also enjoyed singing in the church choir for several years.

"He was an inspiration to all of us,' Verda Graff, a fellow choir member said."He was just so good.'
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"He gave a great example to us as children,'Monsignor Fucinaro said in his homily about his father."He was truly wise beyond his years and he was always teaching,' he said.

Tony had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, the Eucharist and to prayer.Monsignor remembered as a child numerous visits to the cemetery where his dad would be on his knees praying rosaries and he wondered at the time, "Dad, how can you know so many dead people?'

"A lot of our fond memories go back to him being a good father,' Monsignor said.

He loved his Ralston community where he spent nearly all of his 68 years

Tony was also a member of the Ralston American Legion Post No. 373 and the Ralston Volunteer Fire Department.

Monsignor said dad's appreciation for suffering and death motivated him to become involved with the Ralston Volunteer Fire Department.

Tony was remembered by many as always being there to help anyone who needed it.

"My brother's blood just flowed with charity,' said Don."His 40 years on the Ralston Volunteer Fire Department are a testimony to that.'

Tony started RVFD's Junior Fire Patrol program in 1961, a program that continues to teach fourth-graders about fire safety.

Fire Chief Kyle Ienn said he spent a lot of time with Tony and his wife, Joan, in the weeks before his death.They would talk about the fire department and Tony would share stories, Ienn said.
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Most recently, Tony served as a member of the L.V. "Pete' Petersen scholarship committee.

Ienn said if it weren't for the dedication of Tony and the others who served with him and before him, the department would not be as strong today.
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Remembering their early years on the Ralston farm, Don said, "One of the last things I told him was ?I'd give anything to cultivate one more row of corn with you, Tony."