Anthony Albert (Tony) Franco, 97, passed away on October 10, 2022, surrounded by family, after a recent diagnosis of colon cancer. He lived in Briarcliff Manor for almost 53 years. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 16, 1925. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949, after serving in the US Navy during WWII for three years, and worked for IBM for 40 years in Honduras, Mexico, and finally Armonk, NY.

He was a long-time member of Sleepy Hollow Country Club, and had also been a member of the Saw Mill River Club, Club Fit, the International Lawn Tennis Club (IC) and Orange Lawn.

Tony was preceded in death by his father, Fernando Antonio (Tony) Franco Guerra, mother, Gloria Louise (Louise) Stackhouse, and sister, Louise Franco Wallace. Tony is survived by his wife of 66 years, Edith Unsworth, daughter, Lola (Kevin Seaman), son Tony Jr. (Virginia Larrañaga) and grandchildren, Pat, Anthony III (Natalie Hussein), Emilie, Grayson, Wesley, Ana, Colin and Lucy. He is also survived by his niece Linda Franco and his step-mother, Lucha Mendoza, both of Lima, Peru, and many family and friends.

Other than his family, Tony's greatest joy was found on the tennis court. A life-long player, he won two Central American Men's Singles championships; represented Mexico twice in the Stevens Cup Matches. He achieved #1 rankings in the Eastern section at least once in every age group from the 50's - 85's, a total of 20 times. Tony won 45 National Championships, 21 in singles and 24 in doubles. He represented the U.S. in International play, in the Bitsy Grant Cup (2001) and the Gardnar Molloy Cup (2005-2009) with a record of 17-2 in singles. He also won 4 doubles ITF World Championships with his friend, Grady Nichols. Tony's greatest victory, however, was winning the ITF 80+ World Singles Championship in 2006 in Antalya, Turkey. Tony was inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame (1989) and The Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame (2010).

Visitation will be at Waterbury and Kelly Funeral Home in Briarcliff on Thursday, October 20 from 5:00-7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church on Friday, October 21, at 10:00. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the U.Penn tennis team in his memory, www.pennathletics.com/supporttennis

WATERBURY & KELLY FUNERAL HOME

1300 Pleasantville Road

Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510

914-941-0838