Anthony Edward Schiappa

Anthony (Tony) Edward Schiappa, Sr., 80, of Seminole, Florida, passed away March 29, 2010, at St. Petersburg General Hospital with his family by his side. A memorial service will be held Sat., April 3, 11 am at Anderson McQueen, 7820 38th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Florida. Tony was born on December 14, 1929, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Most of his youth was spent growing up in southern Florida, primarily in Miami. After attending Miami High School, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and received an honorable discharge in 1952 at the rank of First Class Photographer's Mate. He completed a Bachelor's degree from the University of Miami in 1955. He worked as a reporter and editor for a series of newspapers in Florida, including the Miami Herald, Palatka Daily News, Lakeland Ledger, Tampa Times, and Tampa Tribune. He became a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1962 and spent ten years in various field offices in Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. In 1972 he was transferred to FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. where he remained with the FBI until his retirement in 1984. Tony went to work in the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and was promoted to chief of the research unit of the external affairs division. He spent the rest of his career at FBI HQ, including stints as spokesman to the media, aide to high-ranking FBI officials testifying before Congress, speechwriter for Director Clarence M. Kelley, and technical consultant to films and the TV series "Today's FBI." After his retirement, Tony worked for the U.S. Capital Historical Society before moving to St. Petersburg in 1989 where he enjoyed playing golf and traveling all over the world. He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Carolyn, sister Margaret, sons Anthony Edward, Jr., Patrick James, and Michael Charles Schiappa, daughter Kathleen M. Lerew, and grandchildren Jacqueline, Lauren, and Michael. Anthony (Tony) Edward Schiappa, Sr., 80, of Seminole, Florida, passed away March 29, 2010, at St. Petersburg General Hospital with his family by his side. Tony was born on December 14, 1929, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Most of his youth was spent growing up in southern Florida, primarily in Miami. After attending Miami High School, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and received an honorable discharge in 1952 at the rank of First Class Photographer's Mate. He completed a Bachelor's degree from the University of Miami in 1955. He worked as a reporter and editor for a series of newspapers in Florida, including the Miami Herald, Palatka Daily News, Lakeland Ledger, Tampa Times, and Tampa Tribune. He became a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1962 and spent ten years in various field offices in Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. In 1972 he was transferred to FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. where he remained with the FBI until his retirement in 1984. Tony went to work in the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and was promoted to chief of the research unit of the external affairs division. He spent the rest of his career at FBI HQ, including stints as spokesman to the media, aide to high-ranking FBI officials testifying before Congress, speechwriter for Director Clarence M. Kelley, and technical consultant to films and the TV series "Today's FBI." After his retirement, Tony worked for the U.S. Capital Historical Society before moving to St. Petersburg in 1989 where he enjoyed playing golf and traveling all over the world. He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Carolyn, sister Margaret, sons Anthony Edward, Jr., Patrick James, and Michael Charles Schiappa, daughter Kathleen M. Lerew, and grandchildren Jacqueline, Lauren, and Michael. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080702150.html?sub=AR