Anthony R. Melise Businessman, family man, and drummer in local bands Anthony (Tony) R. Melise, 82, passed away on July 26, 2018 after a lingering illness, surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be on Monday, July 30, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, N.J. 07090. A Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mountainside, N.J. Entombment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J. Tony was born in Plainfield, N.J., on Oct. 9, 1935 and lived most of his life in Linden, N.J., where he owned and operated his own business, AJ Aluminum. In addition to being a business owner, he enjoyed playing the drums in various local bands and venues. Tony was predeceased by his parents, Domenick and Grace; his sister, Nancy Ashnault, and his daughter-in-law, Susann Melise. Tony is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Josephine (Jo); his daughter, Joanne Petitti, and her husband, Frank; his son, Anthony Melise, and his two granddaughters, Emily and Giannna. Tony is also survived by his sister, Ann Guididas. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tony's memory can be made to City of Hope Hospice, 1900 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076.