Anthony Mitchell Mason

Anthony “Tony” Mason was a lifelong soldier who spent his entire life serving his family, friends, community and country with distinction. Sgt. Mason climbed into his last chopper on December 11, 2021.

Tony was born in Jamaica, New York on December 9, 1947, to Walter Mason and Phyllis Joyce Mason (nee Bailey). He and his twin brother, Walter “Butch” Mason grew up in Harlem. Despite later moving to the Bronx, Tony remained a proud Harlemite until the end. Nonetheless, the Bronx undoubtedly held a special place in his heart, for there is where he met the love of his life, Barbara Ann Mason (nee Durant) in 1963, while attending Olinville Junior High School. After graduating from Evander Childs High School in 1967, Tony encountered what would remain his fascination, or as his daughter Tanisha Mason-Persaud calls it, his obsession for the rest of his life – the United States military – specifically the United States Army.

In 1967, Tony was drafted to serve in the United States Army in the then-ongoing Vietnam War. Tony served two (2) tours of duty in Vietnam during which he was engaged in fighting and was wounded. Most notably, Tony was involved in the fighting during the Tet Offensive, one of the major battles of that war. From then until his last days, he maintained a love for, and devotion to the military and the Vietnam War. Following the Vietnam War, Tony remained a part of the United States Army, serving in the reserves and returning to active duty to serve in various conflicts including Operation Desert Storm. When not serving his country, Tony served his fellow New Yorkers as a civil servant.

From 1988 until his retirement in 1993, Tony was employed as a Traffic Enforcement Agent with the New York City Department of Transportation. However, retirement did not mean Tony stopped working. To the contrary, it provided him the opportunity to fully engage all his energy into what he loved doing most, serving others, especially veterans.

From then until his last days, Tony fulfilled his calling of serving his fellow veterans. He did that by volunteering for more than 14 years at the local Veteran’s Hospital where he assisted veterans in obtaining benefits and serving in various veteran organizations. Tony was not only a member of those organizations – he was a leader. At the time of his passing, Tony was Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (“VFW”) Post 3083 (Lowerre Post) in Yonkers, New York, where he also previously served as Commander and Quartermaster. Tony was also a member of the Catholic War Veterans of America (Department Welfare Officer and nationally-accredited Service Officer); Bronx River Soldiers (Co-Founder, President, and Veterans’ Advocate); Disabled American Veterans (Life Member and supporter); American Legion (Life Member and supporter); South Hudson Valley Veterans Coalition (Member of the Board of Directors); and The Memorial Day Foundation, where he coordinated the delivery of wreaths to the monuments in Washington, DC. His love for the military was undeniable. He once attended a mass where Cardinal Dolan was being honored – dressed in his usual uniform consisting of army camouflage pants, a T-Shirt honoring veterans, and a military hat complete with military pins.

Tony’s love for the military was only eclipsed by his love for his family.

Tony loved his family. He is survived by his wife – Barbara, sons – Brent Mason and Tony Mason, daughter Tanisha MasonPersaud (Renton Persaud), seven (7) grandchildren, brother – Walter “Butch” Mason, and father-in-law – Marion “Popsie” Durant. Tony was pre-deceased by his son Jermon “Jae” Wilson. He was devoted to his wife, Barbara who he married on October 28, 1978, and with whom – as she put it, he was “attached at the hip for 43 years.” When it came to his children, Tony was very protective and was always there whenever they needed him. As the story goes, he and Butch were nicknamed “Guns N’ Roses” for the way they would interrogate young suitors of Tanisha. Tony a/k/a Guns would inform the young men that if they fell short of his expectations of how Tanisha should be treated, he had bullet with their name on it. His kindness was not limited to veterans and his family though.

As anyone who knew or met Tony can attest, he was always warm and positive and sought to impart his positivity towards life to everyone he met from the first moment he was introduced to them. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him, but as the song goes, his “candle’s burned out long before [his] legend ever will.”

The wake and viewing will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Granby’s Funeral Service, Inc. located at 4021 White Plains Road, Bronx, N.Y. A funeral mass is scheduled for December 20, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Sts. Phillip & James Catholic Church located at 1160 East 213th Street, Bronx, N.Y. Burial will follow the mass at Woodlawn Cemetery located at 4199 Webster Avenue, Bronx, N.Y. 10470.