Obituaries/Services

Anthony... thank you for sharing the year 2014 with me and my girls. Thank you for building that pretend fort for them With all those toys and coloring books and crayons. They still mention it today after all these years. Thank you for having my favorite coffees and snacks when I would visit. Wish we would have met now. Sending my love Anthony Gambino... may you rest in internal peace. 🙏 Maribel Haralampopoulos

My condolences to your family. Like many, TG was a bright, positive and kind light to me. We would often chat in our DMs and the encouragement and support he gave me was like no other. I miss him dearly. He left us all kinder and more patient and I'm indebted to him and his infectious spirit. Love you TG. You made everything and everyone better. I will never forget you ❤️

Thank you for sharing him with us. He made everything a little better, a little kinder, I miss him - we all do.

Anthony Center's friend Alex Howley 1/31/81 in Roseburg Oregon wants to pay respects to Anthony Gambino. Yet, here I am always, being tormented by a psychotic 6-7 year old orphan, from Orange County, CA. With her pussy technology, invented by the Mexican Government. It is remote hacking, from that area. She considers me her "Christ." boy follower. Makes me portray some government official. Has a thing for Joe Pesci, in Casino. Trolls me on the net. Very obsessed. I am on the federal watch program. The only one, in the world. These days, to become on the current watch program, you need political ties. Reference August, 2001. Illegal Mexican, "cunt." was raped and beaten, not killed. 92688. I was framed. Also, someone thinks, they feel better off me. This press release, technology confuses minds based on roles for the mentally challenged. Reference attorney Allan Dershowitz. Same bullshit, different day, for me. My friends are in a federal prison, in California. Russian and German. Carmine Gotti, is my very connected friend. By the way, I hate Russian woman.,I trade for Edward Jones. I hate the local district attorney O.C. Todd Spitzer. Asshole.

Peter, I was brought to tears reading the beautiful & heartfelt sentiments of your father. We started posting on a Twitter about the same time, & he made a profound & immediate impact with all whom interacted with him. His kindness & wit brought a huge following & we all grew to love & cherish him. His contribution to his online friends (family, really) was felt by all of us. We are saddened by the loss of such a dear soul, but I am heartened to see that he lives on through you. Wishing you & your family strength & solace. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us. We are here for you. — Michelle M (the crzyldy)

Peter, the words you wrote of your father are so achingly beautiful and it has taken me a while to come up with the right ones for you and your family. That's how impactful your father's presence was in the lives of so many, and the edges you painted of him brought so much of it to life. My deepest condolences to all of you, and though I know that none of the words on this page will ever fill such an enormous hole, I hope you always go through life knowing that your father was one of those rare men who, with only a few words and a simple stroke of kindness, was able to lift up and unite so many. On the same day as his funeral we had a memorial for him on Twitter, the first of its kind, and a moment none of us will ever forget. From all over the world people chimed in, setting their alarm clocks and filling their coffee cups to toast and honor the man you so loved. I have saved all the pages for you, every note and comment, every photo and tale, so that one day you, too, can read them. Perhaps in some small way they'll paint some more of those edges for you and add to that story that I know you'll keep writing. Much love to you all, and the pages will always be waiting. xx Denise Wheeler

Like so many, TG had such an unexplainable impact. It is sometimes easier to connect to strangers maybe? I do not fully understand myself. I do know that whenever I went to Twitter, TG would have posted something - something smart, clever, funny, silly, but always kind - I used those posts as launch pads to aspire to be a better member of every community to which I belong. Terri, a.k.a Dumbunusedid

Sending my deepest condolences to the Gambino family. Sending big hugs to Peter and Mimi. Thank you for sharing TG with us. He was always so quick to share his kindness with us. He knew me as "Mom" but his paternal friendship was priceless and will be forever missed. Please know that we are here for you and pledge to carry on his example.

Sending heartfelt condolences to the Gambino family. "TG" was loved by thousands on Twitter. My interactions were minimal but enjoyable. We shared our love of coffee and chatted during nights of insomnia. Tony had a way of making everyone feel special. His kindness and playfulness will be missed by many. Wishing the family strength and peace during these difficult times~ Susan

Like many of my fellow members of the twitterverse, Tony was a much loved and admired member of our online family. He was consistently kind and thoughtful to all, and a real inspiration as to how we should all treat our fellow human beings. He was always there when we needed him with an encouraging word, a sympathetic ear, and the cutest damn animal videos to jar anyone out of their dark moods. I don't know what we're going to do without him, but I know that now it's up to all of us who loved him to carry on his example and be the TG we all need. My deepest sympathy to his family at this time, and thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with the rest of us.

Peter: such a stunningly beautiful obituary for your dad. You gave us the chance to know much more about such a complicated but profound person he was. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. The Twitter community will never be the same. I'd wish only that you may one day carry on his account of only every now and then to let us all know how you're doing. I bet he'd love that as would we. May his memory forever be a blessing and if there's anything you need, please reach out. We are here. Always. Best to your Mom and family.

For all of our differences, at times fundamental as they were numerous, Anthony Gambino was the best father I could have been born to and raised by. Blood always seemed to run more thickly than friendship to him, with work ethic and never-ending intellectual development following closely behind. Earning his love as a family member was a given. Earning his pride was a different story altogether, which is why his means more to me than anyone else's given the paths I've followed strayed far from the more secure ones he would have preferred. The outpouring of love, condolences, and support from the Twitterverse and beyond are surprising as they are staggering. For someone with such a fervent public following amassed under a lovably absurd, satiric, and politically incensed persona, he was often a private, serious man in real life, obsessed with work, providing for family, and cultivating the perfect home which he rarely left other than for work or visiting my Nonna, especially towards the end. He came from uncertainty and scarcity, which he made up for by putting so much food on the table it'd make you full just to look at it, and making sure you knew he loved you even if he was unsure how to always show it. On the exceptionally rare occasions he spoke of his difficult upbringing and the trials he faced throughout his life, it was almost always as fact, rarely a lamentation, never seeing fit to hold his problems above anyone else's and instead choosing to embrace the philosophy that although your trauma may not be your fault, it IS your responsibility, often to a degree that placed a weight on his shoulders that would have made Atlas himself falter. I don't say this because I want my father to be remembered for anything but his best--I know that everyone will, however long and in whatever capacity they knew him, regardless of what I say--but so that everyone knows that the love, laughter, guidance, and monumental professional output he provided wherever he went was in spite of circumstances and impossibly high self-imposed standards that few would be able to survive, much less thrive under as he did. He taught me much, more than I'll ever truly be able to comprehend or appreciate as much as I should have. How to catch and hit a ball, play on my first computer and Gameboy Color, and do math, however much I dragged my feet and made it clear to him that I would never be the numbers guy he was. The difference between being nice and being kind, and how much more important it is to be kind even when you struggle to be nice. Never a skip a day of work, unless it's your birthday. That anger is not to be inherently shunned so long as it is righteous, measured, and aimed toward those and the institutions they serve that seek to undermine justice. He taught me that money is the most important thing. He taught me that money is the least important thing, especially when you don't spend it on yourself to reward yourself and take a break when you have worked so, so hard for it and everyone around you knows you should. He inspired me to wrestle with the the infinite complexities and dynamics inherent to relationships between fathers and sons through essays on tragic literature I've been writing since high school that I'll never get to show him, and taught me that I may have a much better understanding had I taken my eyes off the page and just spent more time talking to him and asking him how his day was. I could go on, and on, and on. I'd just like to offer gratitude to all the family, friends, and community of online followers that kept him company and gave him strength, inspiration, and purpose, especially towards the end. For all the family and friends that he chose to keep close, I always felt he lacked a community throughout his life and am just so unbelievably happy he finally found one that saw him for the brilliant, hilarious, coffee-obsessed cult of personality that he was underneath it all. Beyond the grief, I am infinitely grateful that he is finally no longer alone or in pain, but somewhere that is constructed of only radiant love, warmth, and cosmic understanding that he has deserved from the moment he was born. My father was always a devout lover of 80s music, but to borrow a line from Hendrix: in death, "all you're doing is getting rid of that old body." I love you Dad, and can't wait to see you on the other side.

I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Like many others, I only knew this amazing man as "TG" from Twitter. He and I occasionally exchanged private messages, and he always reminded me that I was one of his first followers. He paid it forward (exponentially) to others and touched *everyone* in so many ways. He defined inclusion in an online universe that is often unkind, but he persisted. This loss has devastated those of us who were lucky enough to have walked in his light, and (as he would have wanted), collectively brought us together to share our astonishment and grief of this monumental figure in our lives. His kindness, empathy, and generosity toward others were unparalleled; his humor was contagious, and his love for coffee was legendary. He was better than a good man. He was the very definition of what a good man could and should be. My heartfelt condolences to you all.

Peter and Mimi. I spent many a day saved by Tony's thoughts and words. He was as unique as he was compassionate. I can only imagine your profound loss. My thoughts are with you and all who loved the remarkable man he was. May his memory forever be a blessing. - J Slater

My deepest condolences to your entire family. Tony was a bright light in this world. Through his kindness, humor, coffee, and shenanigans, he brought people together and made them feel a part of a community. It truly was an honor to know him. He is missed greatly.

My deepest condolences to Tony's family and friends. Although we never met in person he had a huge impact on so many people. He will be missed

My friend, I'm at a loss for words. Thank you for our conversations... our meet up for coffee this spring would have been one to remember. Love and light - ~Jon Lion

Sending my deepest condolences and sympathies to Tony's family and friends. Through our interactions & correspondence on Twitter over the years, we fast became friends and allies. His fierce defense of democracy, sense of fairness and equity touched the lives of many, including mine, on the other side of the Atlantic. I feel as if I lost a close friend, a brother, even though I never met Tony in person. In grief, and with profound sadness, I send my love, appreciation and my utmost respect to you all from Budapest, Hungary. Tibor M. Kalman

Oscar Wilde was right... There are times when sorrow seems to be the only truth. My condolences on your loss, and may Tony's memory, and his example, be a blessing for us all.

A bright light on Twitter who meant so much to so many; a helper and a friend to all. He invited people in and made the world a friendlier place through his kindness and shenanigans. Peace and love to you all at this most difficult time.

Dearest Gambino Family, Words can not express my deepest condolences. Tony will be missed by all. He was the kindest person I ever met. Although, I never met him. When a person has a profound impact on so many, it speaks volumes. My heart is broken for you and the loss of Tony. He was a gem of a human being. His presence, kindness and humor will be missed. I am blessed to have known him. His light will carry on.

Tony possessed a rare gift. I'm not sure how to describe it but a bottomless cup of wisdom, humor, and time, and he was generous with all. He championed goodness and decency. Cheers to him and love to his family and friends. —Andrew Rudick

I see a lot of people saying that Tony was such a great person & yet they have never met him. I can personally say that me & Tony met over 25 years ago in college and I can vouch for everything people are saying about him. He was the kindest, funniest, smart & selfless person I have ever known. He will be greatly missed, rest in peace my friend. My deepest condolences to Mimi , Peter and the Gambino family.

I'm absolutely devastated at this news. I'm a Twitter friend of his; he was one of the kindest humans I have ever known. I will miss his presence in this world. Please accept my condolences, he was well loved. Michelle M.

Sending my heartfelt condolences and blessings. I worked with Anthony about 16 years and shared good times and many laughs. I'm still stunned at the news of his passing. May you all be comforted with God's love and wonderful memories of Anthony. – Wanda Hernandez

My heartfelt condolences to Tony's family and friends. He was a Twitter friend for nearly 4 years, and we are all devastated by his passing. His Twitter family is holding you all in our thoughts and hearts. 🙏🏻🕯️ -Michelle

Dear Gambino family, Words cannot describe how very sorry I am for your loss. Tony was so loved by all he knew. In person and on social media. He touched so many lives. I was close with him and I know how kind and selfless he was. There was no one in this world like Tony, he was a special person and he will always be here. He will remain in our hearts and memories. Nothing I say will take away your pain, but please know that I share your sadness and love for him. Many of us do, If there is anything we can do or help with, please don't hesitate to reach out. Susan A

Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing of your dad. May you find comfort in the cherished moments you shared together and in the arms of those who care about you. Your father's legacy of kindness and love will continue to inspire us all. Please know I am here for you during this difficult time.

Dear Mimi and Peter, I don't have to tell you how wonderful Tony was or how beloved he was in the twitterverse. I just want to say I treasure the time I spent talking to him online and truly grew to love the guy. I want to echo John Ales' s and Morgan Fairchild's sentiment in wanting to contribute to or help set up a fund for you to be comfortable and flourishing as an expression of gratitude for his generosity of self. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Heather Thomas

Tony and I became friends via Twitter roughly 3 years ago. When we discovered we lived somewhat near each other I discovered Tony was cautious and private, but we persevered. I quickly came to know that Tony was an honorable man colored by an humanist ethos. He also proved to have a great sense of humor and responsibility to community. I say community because it turns out that Tony had a VERY LARGE following on Twitter that included notable entertainment and political minded people. This was commensurate with the always kind, easy-going manner that Tony always displayed toward others. Tony was a special man, a man of his word, and I know that he will be sorely missed, not only by me but by thousands+ people who came to know him via Twitter. My sincere condolences to Tony's immediate and extensive extended family. Rest in peace, Tony. -BBrothers

Tony was one of the kindest men I know. Funny, Smart, Patient. So incredibly sorry for your loss. We will always remember him ♥️🐮

I didn't know Mr. Gambino but appreciated his humor & presence on the internet. I just happened to awaken around 2am on Thursday just as Twitter world was learning of his death. As I read the hundreds of tributes & as rippling waves of anonymous faces shared their sorrow, favorite moments of laughter & of his kindness reaching out to those he considered friends, I pictured that for every tribute, another flickering light shone, growing in number to rival the stars in the universe. Please take heart, that not one voice heard had anything less than praise, for he was one of the special ones. -JCS

I'd like to offer condolences to your family and friends for the loss of Tony. We never met in real life but I considered him a dear friend. I'm sure you know by now how beloved he was in the Twitterverse, and how his kindness and humor and genuine empathy were a beacon and glowing star for so many there. I echo John Ales in offering to help in any way possible as your family processes this and deals with the grief. In truth, it is our collective grief. Sending much love and white light to you all.

Dear Peter and Mimi, So sorry for your loss! I was a friend of Tony's on Twitter and my wife and I will miss him dearly! He truly was the kindest. My deepest condolences for your loss!🙏🏼💔 Kirk Acevedo & Kiersten Warren

My condolences to Tony's family. I adored this man for the four years that I have known him. His passing is devastating to so many of us. Tony was a wonderful human being.

Dear Peter & Mimi, Tony touched hundreds of thousands of people with his kindness, intelligence, and wit. As John Ales mentions, there are many friends who would honor Tony's memory with donations and contributions. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to reach out. We share your grief, and send our love and prayers for your strength and easement at this difficult time. -Dave Abbitt

I am so so sorry for your loss. Though I never met him in RL, I was one of Anthonys' twitter friends. He was a wonderful caring person to all of of us that he met on social media, one of the rare good people found there. I will miss him daily, as will all his other online friends for his kindness, courage and consistent words of hope in dark times to all of us.

I'm absolutely gutted at this news. I'm a Twitter friend of Tony. He was the best of humanity and brought so many of us together. He helped me personally as I navigated a problem. He was so kind, so funny and brilliant! I will miss him terribly. God be with you all and may his memory be a blessing.

I never met Tony, but was touched by his kindness & compassion on Twitter. If he asked what was bothering you, it was because he cared. He is well-loved by a community of folks he never met. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. I speak for many when we say he will be sorely missed. Sending hugs to his family & friends. 🥰 —-Annie Hudson Easton

Sending my deepest condolences. Tony was an absolute gem of a human. May his memory live on forever. I will miss him dearly.

Love you, buddy. You were such a gem. ❤️

Mimi and Peter, I know that no words help right now, but please know how much is loved. He helped many and loved many and was silly with many. All the love of the masses that adore him is heading your way. We lift each other up together...and many would like to know what we can do for you, now. Blessings on our beloved Tony and upon your family. I am sure his light will not be contained by heaven but shall shine to light the way for us all forever.

"As human beings, we each have a responsibility to care for humanity. Expressing concern for others brings inner strength and deep satisfaction. As social animals, human beings need friendship, but friendship doesn't come from wealth and power, but from showing compassion and concern for others." — Dalai Lama Tony exemplified all these traits. May his memory forever be a blessing, we will miss his wisdom, love and the "Someone out there needs this"...

Many are mourning your loss. Love to your family. You were one of the good ones.

Sending my deepest condolences to Tony's family. He was my North Star while navigating some of the darkest days of my life. He lit those days with humor, empathy and caffeinated beverages. I will never forget him. You were blessed to have him close to you. Ed Murray

To Peter and Mimi. I'm a Twitter friend of Tony's. I'm sure you are aware of how many of us felt about him. He was such a huge part of connection for so many thousands of people. I am so very sorry for your loss. I loved that man. We would like to do something in his honor and don't know where to begin. If you need any help, his community is at the ready to support. We would be very happy to start a fund to help your family, Peter's education or donate to any fund that meant something to him. Please let us know what we can do. All my love to your family. John Ales

Tony was coffee and kindness wrapped up in a cozy blanket. You will be missed. Sincere condolences to the family.

Profoundly sad by his passing. We were all better because of him. It will never be the same

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please know how many lives were touched by Tony's kindness, his humor, and his great big heart - including mine. May your memories bring you comfort.

I'm so very sorry to hear of the passing of someone who was really special. T became my friend in the beginning of Covid and connected me with so many others who helped me through difficult times and celebrated the victories. Always a kind word and so giving. Great sense of humor. Passion for what's right and being on the right side of history. I will miss you T. You will shine on in the memories of those who cared about you. My condolences to all family and friends.

My heart goes out to all the Gambino family, I am so sorry for your loss. Tony was such a kind and caring man, he brought so much light into the world. May his memory be a blessing to all who loved him.

Truly one of the best people I have ever known. RIP my dear friend.

Godspeed, Anthony. My sincere condolences to your family and friends. Continue to be a light in the darkness. Ish Kababble

If the Internet is where we reveal our true selves, Tony was a star in the darkness. I'll miss his presence. To all those who loved him, as well as those he loved in return, may the days ahead bring Love, Light, and Laughter once again.

My heart is heavy today hearing this news. Your kindness, humor, and wit were always welcome. I'm truly sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences during this difficult time. May you find comfort in the cherished memories and support from those around you. My thoughts are with you and your family. - Mike de la Hoz

Missing you my friend but know you will be going to the "good" place.

May his memory always be a blessing The world is a less kind, less loving and less caffeinated place with his passing Many will miss his friendly presence, his giving consistency, his happiness in seldom found simplicity.... "Someone out there needs this.... ✌️🤟 One Old Goat/NMS.

My heart is broken to find out of the devastating news that my dearest friend of over 20 years suddenly passed away. I will miss you Ant! RIP my friend.💔💔💔 To Peter and Mimi, please accept my deepest condolences. 🙏🤗🙏

I am so very sorry for your loss. I knew Tony as a good human being who wanted to share only kindness with so many people he never met in person. I believe he succeeded in this more than most will know. He was a good guy.