Anthony Renzi III, sales manager
When his father turned 70, Anthony Renzi III knew just what his birthday present would be. "He bought two seats from Shibe Park," his father, Anthony Jr., said. "He said, 'One is for grandpa and one is for you,' " though his grandfather was long gone.
When his father turned 70, Anthony Renzi III knew just what his birthday present would be.
"He bought two seats from Shibe Park," his father, Anthony Jr., said. "He said, 'One is for grandpa and one is for you,' " though his grandfather was long gone.
The seats from the old ballpark are now in Anthony Jr.'s family room.
And whenever he watches the Phillies on TV, that's where Anthony Jr. sits.
On Friday, July 22, Anthony Renzi III, 39, of Bensalem, who retired due to illness earlier in July as an AT&T sales manager there, died of a cerebral infection at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Mr. Renzi grew up in Vineland, N.J., graduated from Vineland High School in 1995, and earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing at the University of Southern California in 1999. He had spent his first two college years focused on the same subject at the University of Hartford.
During his studies at USC, his father said, Mr. Renzi spent six months studying English literature at the University of Canberra in Australia.
And after graduation, his father said, Mr. Renzi spent two years teaching English in the equivalent of a middle school in Sendai, Japan, later the site of the 2011 tsunami.
He then returned to South Jersey and began his 15-year career at AT&T offices there, in eastern Pennsylvania and New York City.
In high school, his father said, Mr. Renzi was a starting third baseman on the varsity baseball team. He was also a starter on the East Vineland American Legion team that won a state championship in August 1993, his father said.
Kristen Brake, a longtime family friend, recalled playing soccer with him in elementary school. "Very competitive," she said.
Besides his father, Mr. Renzi is survived by his mother, Pauline, a brother, and three sisters.
A visitation was set from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, at the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii, 4680 Dante Ave., Vineland, before a noon Funeral Mass there, with interment in the church cemetery.
Donations may be sent to East Vineland Little League, Box 25, Vineland 08361.
Condolences may be offered to the family at ronefuneralservices.com.
610-313-8134@WNaedele