John Anthony "Tony" Santo

CMI John Anthony “Tony” Santo, U.S. Navy Retired He fought the battle and lost the war and died Friday, July 22, 2016 peacefully at home in Gulfport. Tony entered the military at the age of 17 as an airman apprentice at Grosse Isle Naval Air Station. He cross rated to construction mechanic and was assigned to NMCB 7 in Davisville, RI. During his tour with 7 he was deployed to Argentia, Newfoundland, Bermuda and Cuba. Santo was transferred back to Grosse Isle Naval Air Station as a construction mechanic in the USNR. This is when he met his wife of almost 52 years, Lorraine thru his future brother-in-law, Tom Burden (Elaine Raiteri) at the Grosse Isle EMClub Santo, USNR was then transferred to Alvin Calendar Field in Plaquemines Parish in LA. Santo was called to active duty in 1966 and was the 13th person to check into NMCB 74. Where he served 2 tours in VietNam. He then transferred to Midway Island, a most sought after duty station, Tony then returned to NMCB-1 in Gulfport and was deployed to Okinawa and Puerto Rico. He then was transferred to the 20th Naval Const eduction Regiment. Santo retired from the Seabees in 1979 after 22 and a half years of active duty. Santo then went to work at CED as a mechanic. Hendinallaun. He was a member of Moc Pup Tent 2, VFW life member, American Legion Post DAV, Orange Grove Carnival Assn., and Krewe of Gemini, where he was the first Duke to serve in a wheel chair. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Raiteri Santo; daughters, Suzanne(Pat)Peresich, Toni-Michelle (Jerry) Coons,and Danielle (Nicholas) Stasulli; son, Donald (Emma) Hubbs who was the son he never had; step brothers Royden (Margie) Jones and James Jones and Harry Kerr (Jimmie Jo) who was more than a brother; Shirley Abels who was his "work girlfriend", a friendship his wife approved of and never died; and his beloved beagle, Bugaboo who trained herself as a service dog and always notified Lorraine when something was wrong with Tony's breathing; His grandchildren Michael Peresich, Brittany and Jerry Coons, and Ava Marie and Gabriella Stasulli and great granddaughter Caroline Peresich. His nieces Leanne Thiltgen, Karen Nunez, Anne Jones and many, many cousins and extended family. The family requests memorials to MS Gulf Coast Multiple Sclerosis Society, 519 Vicki Dr., D’Iberville, MS 39540 or Feed My Sheep, P.O. Box 6883, Gulfport, MS. 39501. Visitation was held Monday, July 25, 2016 from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport. The graveside service will be Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Navy. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com