Antonio Britto

Tony, as the largest in the Family, was our Family protector. Just his presence was always a deterrent to anyone who had bad intentions towards anyone in the Family. Although it upset Mom greatly, Tony, who was very smart scholastically, quit High School after his sophomore year to take up Boxing. Some time later he became Heavyweight Champion, as an amateur, of the ’Diamond Gloves’ (now defunct) which was a forerunner to the ’Golden Gloves’. In 1941, he enlisted in the Army and became a truck driver in the famed ’Red Ball Express’, and participated in the Pacific action of World War II. He was a fine soldier and was promoted several times and might have attained the rank of Technical or Master Sergeant, if it were not for his penchant for fighting.  As often as he was promoted, he got busted several times, for knocking down other soldiers- with whom he did not see eye to eye with.

Note: The Red Ball Express was a massive truck convoy system operated by the U.S. Army during World War II. It was created to supply Allied forces moving rapidly across France after the breakout from the Normandy beaches. Read more about the Red Ball Express below (our family member was a part of it!).

Upon his return from the War, Tony became a construction worker. He also resumed his boxing career, as an amateur. His manager was Joe Marando, Sr., the Father of my classmate, Joe Jr. In his first fight for Mr. Marando, at the Don Bosco Center in Port Chester, NY, he faced the then Reigning A.A.U. Heavyweight Champion of the U.S.-Arturo Cinsabella.  Tony knocked him out in about 2 minutes of the first round.  After several more wins as an amateur, he turned Professional and the going got a lot tougher. In one fight, with then heavyweight contender Coley Wallace, Tony was knocked out in the 6th round. For those of you who have seen the Movie ‘The Joe Louis Story’, Coley played the part of Joe Louis.

Note: The Google images of Coley Wallace show that he was a strong man who looked like he could really fight: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=474fb387d4d9a5ed&sxsrf=ANbL-n6MSdI_mtI9um40OaN0Q7lphHLdgA:1769386888708&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3jljrY5CkLlk8Dq3IvwBz-SJyfRX_inP-J3Cs9lQZu9J3QQItR3OEYwLkKzmr7kPOds-mbrHZ05SQHoSw9Gwghjdt01sH5ZqaLclnWwHCdnb84ZvyEmJ0v7ayb3w69GCb6--AlQkTMIgczcJHznS8W6d3OSxqbAUykH-Zbdtj7cutygTsg&q=coley+wallace&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjs4-Ln96eSAxWKCnkGHXz4DYcQtKgLegQIHRAB&biw=1177&bih=626&dpr=2&aic=0

Another notable fight was versus Gus Lesnevich, the reigning Light Heavyweight Champion of the World.  Tony lost a 10 round decision. I did not see that fight, but several observers who did see it, told me that Tony really won the fight, but Lesnevich’s handlers were grooming him for a shot at the Heavyweight Title and had ’connections’. Tony, as a professional, had a 5 won-3 lost record and did not train as hard as he should have. Too many of his training sessions were in ’Hermans Bar & Grill’ where he proved to be quite popular with the Ladies-If you know what I mean. According to a story that Tony told me, ’Nho Joaquim’, my Dad-who had a great relationship with Tony, sat him down and had a talk with him. He told Tony that If he was going to be a serious professional fighter, that he would have to give up ‘Wine, Women and Song’. Tony’s reply was “Well I never could sing anyway”.

Anyhow, as a result, Tony retired from Boxing.  He then met and married a beautiful young lady named Dorothy Hammonds and they were Very happy together. Then suddenly Dorothy died, at a very young age-probably less than 22 years of age. Tony sank into a deep depression and was not himself for several years. General Family opinion was that Tony needed a change of scenery. Brother Frank enticed him Into coming to Los Angeles, Ca. and so he left Port Chester in 1959, to start a new life in L.A. I have assumed it was Frank who introduced them, but I do not know for sure-but Tony met and married Kathryn McCarty, who lived in Los Angeles, but came from Phoenix, AZ. Tony obtained employment with the University of California at San Bernadino and was in charge of supplies, books, etc. at the school. He obtained this job via several Civil Service tests he had taken at that time, upon Kathryn‘s recommendation.

Kathryn was a Court Stenographer. They worked hard, saved their money and bought a beautiful home with a swimming pool in San Bernadino. It was now obvious that Tony had found The peace that he was looking for and a lovely and very attentive Wife in Kathryn. Later they purchased another home in San Berdoo with many of the same amenities. At this point Tony suffered a heart attack which, as you might assume, caused quite a bit of anxiety in Kathryn. Not knowing what to do she ran to the home of their next door neighbors who aided Kathryn until an ambulance arrived. Kathryn told me that if not for the assistance she received from her neighbors, Tony surely would have died then. As a result, Kathryn and Tony moved to Phoenix, AZ, after retirement, where Kathryn had many relatives, who could aid her in the event that this emergency arose again.

In Phoenix, they accumulated several properties that they generally rented to elderly and Retired Senior citizens of Phoenix. They led a very quiet and peaceful life there, for many years, up until Tony suffered another heart attack, this time fatal, in 1993.  They traveled as often as Tony’s health allowed, especially when the trips included visits to relatives. They visited Cape Verde and, to my knowledge are the only ones who ever met Mateus Dos Santos. Kathryn detailed their visit to Cabo Verde one time to me. Also, as a result of their trip, Pedro Brito began the first of several trips to the United States through the courtesy of Tony & Kathryn. Kathryn, when I visited them, use to tell me, Tony really missed his Sister and Brothers.  She also told me how he saved money, in retirement, for the purpose of attending anticipated marriages of his many Nieces & Nephews. 

For those of you who do not know, Tony has a Daughter, Pauletta Reis, who still lives in Mahopac, NY. Kathryn died in 1999 due to injuries suffered in an auto accident.  This still bothers me because having ridden with Kathryn & Tony in autos, many times, I was well aware of her fear of high speed driving-she would not tolerate it. It leaves many unanswered  questions.

The thing I remember most about Tony was his sense of humor. He and Jay were the funniest guys in the Family. We Brothers never exchanged gifts at Christmas.  One Christmas, when I was about 9 or 10 years old, I asked Tony “what are you Going to get me for Christmas?” In response he quickly queried “what did I get you last year?” I replied “nothing”. Tony then said “well, this year, I’m going to wrap it.” and the whole Family broke out in laughter. Those were times I will never forget, especially the frivolity between Family members.  Tony, I will never forget the fun times we all had together and your sense of humor through good and bad times. I truly believe it made all of us better and stronger people than we might otherwise have been. 

Only you, Your Brothers and Sister can understand that.

May You and Kathryn both continue to rest in peace.

Your Brother, John.