Local 100 Mourns Passing of Anthony Corona, Retired Vice President

Anthony J. “Tony” Corona, a retired Local 100 Vice President from the Car Equipment Division, passed away on Jan. 4, 2021 from the Covid 19 virus.  He was 81 and had retired 20 years ago.

A Bronx native, Brother Corona joined transit in 1968 and worked for many years at the 207th Street Main Shop as a Car Inspector.  He served in the U.S. Navy on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, USS Saratoga.  After leaving the Navy he joined the U.S. National Guard. He served the union as an elected Division Officer, a Staff Representative from 1982 to 1986, Vice President from 1986 to 1993, and Legislative Director from 1993 to 2000.  He also served as a Trustee to the TWU Local 100-NYCT Health Benefit Trust, and was an elected Executive Board member to the TWU International Union. During his years as Legislative Director, he successfully lobbied for COLA’s for City and State retirees, as well as passage of the 25-55 pension for transit workers.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said: “Tony was a wonderful person who fought hard and effectively for this membership during a great career as a staff member and elected officer.  He was an easygoing guy who everyone liked, and who conducted his business professionally and always with a smile.  If you knew Tony Corona, you loved him.  My heart goes out to his wonderful family.”

Brother Corona graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School on Fordham Rd. in the Bronx, and he attended the Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations in Ithaca, NY.

He was introduced to his beloved wife, Joann, by her brother who served with Tony in the Navy.  “We’ve been together ever since he got out of the Navy,” she said.  “He was a faithful, caring, loving husband and a wonderful father.  I was blessed to have such a good man all these years.”

Brother Corona developed lung cancer while still on the job, and was in remission for  many years.  But both he and Joann became sick from the virus. “We were both very sick and in the hospital.  But the fact that Tony had lung cancer in the past was a big factor in his death, according to the doctors.”

He was an active member of the Blauvelt Sons of Italy, Lodge 2176, where he was well loved by all. He is survived by his wife, Joann Nordstrom Corona, three daughters, eight grandchildren, a sister, Rose Nasonte, and a brother, Joseph. He was a resident of Congers, NY at the time of his passing.

Arrangements are as follows: There will be a viewing on Sunday, January 10, 2021, from 2:00-6:00pm at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ (201-767-3050). A private funeral service will be livestreamed on Monday at 11:00am at the following link:
https://boxcast.tv/channel/anthony-j-tony-corona-funeral-service-149212

A military burial service will be held Monday at 12:30pm at the Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.

Those who wish may make donations in Tony’s memory to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, www.mskcc.org.