Anthony Komisar Sr.

ANTHONY KOMISAR SR.

Cedar Rapids

Anthony G. "Tony" Komisar Sr., 78, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, following an extended illness.

Tony was born in Beacon, N.Y., to Joseph and Barbara Komisar. When he graduated from Beacon High School, he served in the Army, stationed in Germany until his discharge. In 1998, Tony was inducted into the Beacon High School Athlete Hall of Fame.

Tony excelled in both basketball and baseball while in school. After graduating Beacon High School, Tony signed a contract to play pro-fessional baseball with the Milwaukee Braves. Tony played six seasons in the Milwaukee Braves minor league organization.

Tony also played for the Lafayette Chiefs in 1955; Leesburg Braves in 1956; Corpus Christi Clippers in 1957; and the Salinas Packers in 1957 and 1958. Tony then served in the Army from 1959 to 1960. In 1961, Tony resumed playing minor league baseball in Cedar Rapids for the Cedar Rapids Braves from 1961 to 1962. Tony's nickname at the Cedar Rapids ballpark was "Club House" because Tony was always the first player to arrive before the game!

Tony met Anna Mae Walton while he was playing baseball for the Braves. They married Sept. 10, 1962, in Cedar Rapids. They moved to Beacon, N.Y., for six years.

Tony was a volunteer firefighter in Fishkill, N.Y., and a parts manager for GM at a car dealership in Beacon, then Pough-keepsie, N.Y.

With their three children, they moved back to Cedar Rapids. The day of their return, Tony was hired as parts manager for McGrath Pontiac, where he worked until he retired after 36 years.

Tony was very active in playing softball with many teams: Mr. Bubbles Paradise Tavern, Frank's Tavern and A'Hearn Plumbing. Tony was inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame in 1982. He also enjoyed fishing with family and playing cards with friends.

Tony was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara, and his father, Joseph; sisters, Clara, Helen and Bertha; brothers, John, Joseph and Bill; and an infant brother, all of Beacon, N.Y.

Survivors include Tony's wife, Anna Mae; son, Tony (Mary) Komisar Jr.; daughters, Kathleen (Kevin) Crist and Lisa Komisar; his five granddaughters, Jennifer (Hunter) Holeman, Jessica Komisar, MacKenzie Crist, Madeline Crist and Brianna Shell; and his sisters-in-law, Marcella Bruns and Jean Elliott of Cedar Rapids. Also his beloved white rag-doll cat, Bently, with blue eyes ("He's something else"), kept him entertained for years!

Visitation will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, followed by a funeral service in the chapel at 1 p.m. Entombment, with military honors, to take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials in Tony's name may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar memorial.com.