J. Tony De Sousa

J. Tony De Sousa, 77, of Toronto, passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on October 6, 2024, at Princess Margaret Hospital.

He was born August 30, 1947, to Jose and Maria Rosa De Sousa in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. The family immigrated to Toronto when he was eleven and settled in a loving home on Delaware Avenue. Tony attended high school at Western Tech. He excelled in athletics, winning Athlete of the Year in 1966-67 and numerous medals, including two awarded by HRH Princess Alexandra at the 1967 TSSAA Track Meet while she was on tour celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.

Tony’s athletic accomplishments earned him a full scholarship from the University of Wyoming (UW) for Track and Cross Country and Soccer (where he served as team captain). He earned his Bachelor of Science in 1973 and Master of Education in 1975.

On July 25, 1970, he married M Fatima Faria Silva. They had their son Christopher while he attended UW in Wyoming and Brian when they returned to Toronto.

Tony was hired by the Toronto Catholic District Separate School Board in 1975 and spent his entire career in the same school building at Dufferin and Bloor until his retirement in 2004. During the twenty-nine years he taught in the building, it changed from an Elementary School (JJ Mc Grand) to a High School (Brother Edmund Rice and then to St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School). Always passionate and a leader, he went from teaching physical education, to ultimately serving as the school Principal. Tony felt that it was his calling to educate, mentor, coach, and serve students in the Portuguese Canadian community. Tony received numerous teaching, coaching, and service awards, including the 1994 Parkdale Award for Outstanding Dedication and Commitment.

While teaching, Tony continued to be active in sports. He spent many years with the Ciociaro Soccer Team, winning the Canadian Amateur Soccer Championship in 1981, for which the team was honoured by North York Mayor Mel Lastman and Ontario Premier Bill Davis for their accomplishment. Of all the sports he excelled at, his true passion was running, and Tony continued participating in 10Ks and Half Marathons until 2023. Tony also treasured working in the garden, watching his grandchildren play sports, vacationing with his family, and twenty years of retirement in Toronto and Portugal with his wife and soulmate Fatima.

Tony is survived by his wife Fatima, his sons Chris (Sonya) and Brian (Diana), grandchildren (Alexander, Sarah, Christian, Matthew) and step-grandchildren (Athena [Sebastian], Isaac), step-great-granddaughter (Sidney), siblings and their spouses (Jose, Roy [Peggy], Grace [John], Emanuel [Marion], Fatima’s siblings (Ruth [Anibal], Joe, Dina), and nieces (Jennifer [Augusto], Gabriella [Jerry], Maddison, Diana [Mike]), nephews (Adrian, Joshua [Val], Daniel, Michael, Darryl [Sara], Richard, Andrew), and many wonderful cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Maria Rosa, in-laws Antonio and Dores, and brother-in-law Rui.

Family and Friends will be received at the Ward Funeral Home, 2035 Weston Road “Weston Chapel” on Tuesday from 1 – 4 pm and 6 – 9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 9:30 am at All Saints Catholic Church, 1415 Royal York Road, Etobicoke. Internment to follow at Sanctuary Park Cemetery. In Memory of Tony, donations to World Vision or Camp Ooch – Campfire Circle would be appreciated. 

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