It is with deep sorrow that we announce that Anthony “Tony” Francis Curcio Jr., 80, went home to the Lord on February 11, 2026 at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, N.C., after a brief illness in the hospital.

Anthony was born in the Bronx, N.Y., on July 8, 1945, to Anthony Sr. and Marie (Christiano) Curcio. After graduating from Regis High School in New York, he earned a BA in History from Fordham University, where he met his beloved wife of 57 years, Rita Ann (Lee). He went on to earn an MBA from Columbia University.

Tony and Rita married in December of 1969 and were the very loving parents of two girls, Caroline Marie (Curcio) Joos and Joanna “Josie” Lee (Curcio) O’Rourke. Tony was an avid sports fan and especially loved the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. Though a city boy by birth, he found solace in the country life of the farming suburbs of New Jersey, where he raised his family amidst many beloved pets, while still traveling daily with most of his working years back to NY City as a buyer of men’s dress shirts for JCPenney. He then traveled the world as a vendor of men’s clothing before retirement. Though his later years found him and Rita in North Carolina and back to apartment living, he continued his devotion to his family and developed a special affection for his beloved dog “Emma”, who will miss him as dearly as his family does.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Marie, and many Italian aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Rita; his daughter Caroline (Joos) and her two children, Gabriella “Ella” (Joos) and Lucas (Joos); his daughter Josie (O’Rourke) and his son-in-law Patrick (O’Rourke) and their children, Maureen (O’Rourke), Patrick Jr. (O’Rourke), Martin (O’Rourke), Dennis (O’Rourke), John “Jack” (O’Rourke) and Bridget (O’Rourke); and his great-granddaughter Amara (Wesley). Tony is also survived by his dear brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews, John and Nancy Lee and their children Diana and John and their families, and Robert and Anne Lee and their children Katie, John, and Tom, and their families.

Services for Tony are being planned and details will be shared with family as soon as they are available.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Curcio family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.