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Tony Duarte passed away peacefully on May 26, 2025.
Tony's daughter, Amy Smithson wrote,
"My heart is shattered. Sadly, I have to say goodbye to the most incredible man I’ve known—my Dad. He wasn’t just a father—he was my rock, my biggest supporter, and the person who could always make me laugh, even on the worst days.
He was funny, so full of life, and had the kindest heart. He loved deeply, cared endlessly, and gave so much of himself to everyone around him. Whether it was a joke, a hug, or just his presence—he had a way of making everything feel okay.
I don’t know how to imagine life without him, but I do know I was lucky to be his Daughter.
If you knew my Dad, you know just how special he was.
Please keep our family in your thoughts right now. And if you have any memories or photos of him, I’d love to see them.
Rest easy, Dad. I love you forever"
May Tony rest in peace. https://www.voranfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Joseph-Tony-Duarte?obId=42635935#/obituaryInfo
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Patrick "Mac" Deuparo
Brother Tony...
What can be said about Tony that hasn’t already been said?
…We went to Holy Redeemer from the first through twelfth grade.
…We played football and basketball together.
…We were melded by the Holy Redeemer community…
…family, friends and schoolmates. Tony was scrappy by size compared to his Herculean brother Dave.
…But he had that Holy Redeemer team spirit that you could always count on.
…He never gave up and he never caved in.
…Tony’s positive attitude, voice, humor and smiles was always a reassuring comfort.
…I never heard a foul word or complaint come from Tony.
…He was a real Holy Redeemer man no matter his position.
…Tony was extremely smart but he never used his intelligence to belittle anyone.
…Others always came first …
He was a true man to his Christian faith.
…and he acted like a true apostle of Jesus!
…All that knew Tony …appreciated his love, friendship and kindness during our youth…
…His goodness will be passed on from generation to generation.
…Thanks Tony …Bro Mac ☮️✝️💟
Paul Pisani
Losing Tony last year was pretty tough on me. We had been friends since kindergarden. In the early years we played all sorts of sports together at Redeemer playground.and later football with alumni at Patton Park. We enjoyed sharing time with each others family. His mom made authentic mexican dishes and made tostadas at Redeemers fall festival.
We went on several vacations together throughout the years. Hope I don't bore you with a few memories: Thanks to one of my cousins, Jerry, we went to a horse farm up in East Jordan for some good horseback riding. We earned our breakfast by loading bales of hay onto a flatbed then into the barn. Later we were exited to go riding. These horses could really run. After a gallop through the woods we reached a clearing where the horses took off faster and Tony was thrown off onto his back as the horse slammed on the brakes mere feet from the edge of a steep cliff. Fortunately, he just got the wind knocked out of him.
Tony and I drove down to Fort Meyers on a few occasions visiting my cousins that he knew from when they lived in Dearborn. However, one time on the way back we hit a deer in Ohio. His cherished green 1970 convertable Mustang was badly damaged. We got it repaired.
On another vacation when we both had families with young children we rented rooms on the ninth floor of a downtown Toronto hotel. Someone in the middle of the night decided to pull the fire alarm as a prank. We had to walk all the way down in our pajamas. After we settled back into our rooms they pulled it 2 more times!! We managed to get a good discount.
Tony helped me financially living with me after the annulment of my first marriage (no children thank God). This allowed me to keep my house in Allen Park. Tony always smiling with a positive attitude was a generaous, kind loving person who lived his faith. I was deeply impressed by his remarkable patience and astonished by the extent to which he could overlook and forgive. It's an honor to call him my friend and I find myself a better person for knowing him.
Linda Jedynak (Sandoval)
Well, I also, have memories of Tony well into our years since graduation. My family lives in Dearborn, and it seems I was home(I've lived in California since 1978), when the Dearborn Homecoming was happening. No matter what year I attended that event, all were sporadic years, I ALWAYS ran into Tony! Was a nice, comfortable meeting up. The years I was not in town, my sister would run into Tony at the Homecoming and he would always ask how I was. We were friends in high school, and maintained a connection well beyond 1969. R.I.Power.
Linda Jedynak Sandoval