Anthony 'Tony' Hope
Livingston High School teacher and celebrated coach, proud member of the Big 'L' Hall of Fame
Anthony Hope passed away on Dec. 6, 2019, at the age of 92. He was the son of Daniel and Mary Hope.
Tony was born and raised in the Roseville section of Newark, N.J. He attended Abington Avenue School and graduated from Central High School in 1945.
After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps in Linz, Austria. There, he helped displaced persons return to their home countries after World War II ended.
Upon returning to the United States, he married the love of his life, Marie (nee Colasanti) in June of 1952.
He attended Seton Hall University on the G.I. Bill and earned his B.S. and Master's degrees in education. He taught physical education, health, social studies, and driver's education at Livingston High School. Tony coached football, baseball and girls' softball at LHS. The teams he coached won many conference, county, and state championships. He was selected as the Essex County Coach of the Year in 1986 for girls' softball at LHS when the team won Livingston's first state sectional title. During the summers, he was an umpire and managed the Livingston Memorial Pool.
After retirement, Coach Hope still followed Livingston's athletic teams and was a proud member of the Big "L" Hall of Fame.
Tony participated in many sports throughout his life. He was a passionate fan of the New York Giants and New York Mets, along with his love of big band jazz music.
He is most proud of the relationships he had with his former students, players and co-workers. Many of them became his lifelong friends.
He was happiest when traveling and spending time with Marie and their three children.
Tony is survived by his loving and beautiful wife, Marie, of 67 years; also by his children, Denise and her husband, Bruce; Danny and his wife, Pam; Toni and her husband, Ricky. He is also survived by his sister, Bernice and her husband, Charles Hoffman, of Louisiana, and many nieces and nephews.
Tony was the proud grandfather to seven grandchildren, Michael, Mark, Jaclyn, Matthew, Daniel, David and Nicole. He was the loving great-grandfather to five great-grandchildren, Ariella, Mara, Skylar, Sawyer, and Raphael.
Arrangements for the wake will be on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, N.J., from 2 to 8 p.m.
The funeral will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home. We will then proceed to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, N.J. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tony's memory to the Big "L" Club of Livingston High School would be greatly appreciated.