Anthony "Tony" V. Grimaldi, age 83, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on October 5, 2026, following a brief battle with lymphoma, and returned home to God.

A devout Catholic, Tony walked faithfully in the light of our Lord and had a special devotion to Saint Padre Pio, who held a meaningful place in his heart.

Tony was born on April 7, 1943, in Alife, Italy, to Biagio and Violante Grimaldi. He spent his early childhood surrounded by the traditions of small-town life, with especially fond memories of summers in the Italian countryside with his maternal grandmother. His Italian heritage remained an important part of who he was throughout his life.

In 1956, at the age of 13, Tony and his family left Italy to begin a new life in the United States, settling in Bayside, New York. He attended Flushing High School, embracing his new home while always remaining deeply connected to his Italian roots.

Tony met the love of his life, Susan, in 1964 at Jones Beach in New York, beginning a love story that would span more than six decades. They married on May 12, 1968, at St. Luke's in Whitestone, New York, and shared 58 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they built a beautiful life centered on faith, family and love. Susan was Tony's lifelong partner, best friend, and companion through all of life's adventures. As Susan so lovingly says of their life together, "Every day was a celebration."

Tony proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Army before building a remarkable career of more than 60 years in the garment industry. He genuinely loved his work and continued working until just last year because staying active, engaged, and connected to others brought him great joy.

A natural leader and relationship builder, Tony took great pride in organizing and leading industry trade shows, bringing people together and making sure everything came together successfully. Over the decades, he built lasting relationships with sales representatives, buyers, colleagues, and friends throughout the industry. Tony was an organizer, a connector, and often the glue that held his team together.

Tony's greatest joy, however, was always his family and simply being together with the people he loved. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a generous heart, and a way of bringing warmth and laughter wherever he went. His grandchildren held an especially precious place in his heart.

Tony loved to cook, and the kitchen was one of the many ways he expressed his love for his family. He had a special gift for creating something delicious without ever needing a recipe. Whether making his famous chicken cutlets, homemade pesto, incredible pizzas, or a meal for a house full of family, Tony was happiest when everyone was gathered around the table. Some of his family's most cherished memories will always be of sharing one of Tony's meals together.

He loved tending to his garden and, later in life, discovered a love for golf. In retirement, Tony made sure to hit the links several times a week, often with Susan and good friends. Tony and Susan also loved to travel and especially looked forward to their annual tradition of escaping the Michigan winter in Florida each January, enjoying time with the friends and family who joined them over the years.

Returning to his native Italy always held a special place in Tony's heart, giving him the opportunity to reconnect with his roots and share a place he loved so deeply with Susan and his family.

Tony faced life's challenges with remarkable strength and resilience, including overcoming colon cancer in his seventies. Through it all, he never lost his faith, his sense of humor, or his love of life. His Catholic faith remained a constant throughout his life, and he was a parishioner of St. Barbara Catholic Church in Dearborn, Michigan.

Tony was a devoted and loving husband to Susan, a proud father to Tony Grimaldi Jr. (Ashton), Robert Grimaldi (Antonella), and Anne Marie Orf (Darren), and a cherished grandfather to Christian, Gabriella, Kaitlin, and Olivia. He is also survived by his beloved brother, Joe Grimaldi (Paulette), along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Tony was welcomed into Heaven by his beloved parents, Biagio and Violante Grimaldi, his brother Vincent Grimaldi, and his sister Mary Davis (Daniel), who preceded him in death.

More than anything, Tony will be remembered for how deeply he loved his family and how deeply he was loved in return. His love and the countless memories he created will live on through his family and remain a beautiful part of his legacy for generations to come.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 9, from 3:00PM-8:00PM at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home, 33603 Grand River Ave, Farmington Hills, MI.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on October 10 at St. Barbara Catholic Church, 13534 Colson St, Dearborn, MI, where Tony will lie in state from 10:30AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00AM. Interment will follow at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Tony's honor to St. Barbara Catholic Church in Dearborn, Michigan, or the American Cancer Society.

American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123
Tel: 1-800-227-2345
Web: http://www.cancer.org/

St. Barbara Catholic Church
13534 Colson St, Dearborn MI 48126
Tel: 1-313-582-8383
Web: https://www.saintbarbaradearborn.org/