Service Details
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 10:30 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie Street, with friend Rev. Steve K. Varghese officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow. Visitation will be in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday, August 1st, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm (Roma Lodge service at 6:00 pm) and in St. Joseph Church on Saturday from 9:00 -10:30 am. Private Entombment will take place in the St. Michael Mausoleum of Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32.
Memorial Suggestions
In memory of Tony, memorials to Racine Friendship Clubhouse have been suggested.
Racine – Anthony “Tony” Samuel Ferraro, age 88, passed away at home, surrounded by the love of his wife and children, on early Monday, July 21, 2025.
Tony was born in Racine, WI on August 18, 1936 to Joseph and Carmela “Minnie” (nee: Schifano) Ferraro, who both immigrated from Sicily. He was a first generation American with a proud Sicilian heritage and three older brothers. He graduated from William Horlick High School in 1954, where he served as Class President, quarterback of the football team, star guard of the basketball team and a founding member of the first Horlick baseball team. An impressive student, Tony was awarded an academic scholarship to Northwestern University, graduating in 1959 with a civil engineering degree. He was also a fraternity brother with Delta Epsilon and served in the U.S Army Reserves from 1960-1968.
While at Horlick, he met his high school sweetheart, Jeanne E. (nee: Lentz). It was love after the first dance and a long walk home. Tony and Jeanne were united in marriage on July 1, 1961 at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church and have been dancing together ever since.
One of Tony’s first work experiences was as the assistant commissioner for the Racine Parks & Recreation Department. His legacy can be seen in the design of the Zoo Park Fountain and a number of city parks. Tony then worked at the Milwaukee Gas Company prior to working for SC Johnson for over 30 years. His career there brought the Ferraros to live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the early 1980s and Yokohama, Japan in the late 1990s, retiring in the year 2000.
During retirement, Tony remained busy volunteering as a tutor with Racine Literacy Council, Taylor Boys’ Home, John the 23rd Center at St. Patrick’s Church, and teaching math programs in prison ministry. Among his interests, Tony was an avid tennis player, frustrated golfer (like most) with one hole-in-one at Meadowbrook Country Club, a downhill & cross-country skier until he was 80 and a world traveler with his beautiful wife, Jeanne, having been fortunate enough to visit all 7 continents. Above all, Tony was about God and family.
Tony was a former member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church and St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. In recent years, he was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and often attended Grace Church with his wife. His Sicilian roots led him to be a longtime member of Roma Lodge where he volunteered at festivals and loved to eat pasta and meatballs. Living right off the 9th hole, Tony and Jeanne were dedicated members of Meadowbrook Country Club becoming Honorary Members in the last couple of years.
Surviving are his loving wife of 64 years, Jeanne; their children, Joe (Mary) Ferraro, Terri (Chris) Hytinen and Gina (Kevin) Sopa; cherished grandchildren, Alec (Katrin) & Angelo Ferraro; Sam, Carly & Lindsey Hytinen; Vince & Joey Nygro; dear great-granddaughter, Aurora Ferraro; sisters-in-law, Helen Ferraro and Robin Lentz; lifelong best friends, Gar Alperovitz and Bill Chiapete; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends.
In addition to his parents, Tony was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Chris Nygro; brothers, Frank (Mary) Ferraro, Lou (Pat) Ferraro and Ralph Ferraro; Jeanne’s parents, George “Cappy” and Agnes (nee: Mikulanec) Lentz, Tony’s mother-in-law who passed on the same date in 1983; brother-in-law, Bob Lentz and many beloved relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 10:30 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie Street, with friend Rev. Steve K. Varghese officiating. A Celebration of Life will follow. Visitation will be in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Friday, August 1st, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm (Roma Lodge service at 6:00 pm) and in St. Joseph Church on Saturday from 9:00 -10:30 am. Private Entombment will take place in the St. Michael Mausoleum of Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. In memory of Tony, memorials to Racine Friendship Clubhouse have been suggested.
A heartfelt note of thanks to all of Tony’s health professionals and caregivers for the compassionate attention given to him through his long journey home. Also, many thanks to their wonderful neighbors and the incredibly kind and generous staff & friends at Meadowbrook Country Club for their continued support over the years.
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