Obituary for Anthony "Tony" Siragusa
He had the heart of a giant – because he was one, in every way.
Anthony “Tony” Siragusa, 55, beloved son of Pete and Rosemarie, husband, father, and brother, passed away in his Ortley Beach home Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Formerly of Florham Park New Jersey, Siragusa also resided in Jupiter, Florida.
With an unforgettable personality and an uncommon talent on the football field, Siragusa went from small town hero to Superbowl fame. Along the way, he married his high school sweetheart Kathy, fathered three children, Samantha Rose, Anthony Peter, and Ava Kathleen, and charmed generations of fans who came to know him as “Goose.”
As one of the most popular players in Ravens history, Siragusa played in the NFL for 12 seasons as a Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle, and later a television analyst for Fox Sports from 2003 to 2015 on the network’s NFL broadcasts. He also co-hosted the DIY Network’s home renovation series Man Caves, which aired over 130 episodes from 2007 to 2015. More recently he was a partner in Titan Aviation Group, an aircraft charter business.
Despite all his success professionally, Siragusa was above all a family man, who took great pride in spending time with his children, his wife, his mom, his brothers Peter and Elio, their wives, Debbie and Tara, and children, and countless cousins and close friends.
He was deeply rooted in his hometown of Kenilworth- so much so that some might say you could take the “Goose” out of Kenilworth but you could not take Kenilworth out of the “Goose.” He played Pop Warner football, wrestled, played Little League Baseball, sang in the David Brearley High School (Kenilworth) chorus, won the 1985 NJSIAA HWT state wrestling championship, was a 1984 All State Lineman, while also contributing as the team’s punter and kicker. He even found time to play golf on the Brearley High School team. To culminate his high school accomplishments, he was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2022.
Even with all his fame, Siragusa never forgot where he came from, staying anchored to family, friends, former coaches, and even the cherished deli sandwich at Massimo Italian Delicatessen or slice of pizza at Three Guys. He loved to stop in at Bruno’s on Monroe and 12th Street and share a beer and a story at Buffy’s Tavern when he was in town.
This was Tony – a man of simple pleasures set against a grandiose presence. No matter where he went, he commanded the room, and for a time, the football field where he contributed to one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses.
Born on May 14, 1967, in Kenilworth, New Jersey, Siragusa played five years at the University of Pittsburgh and began his professional career by signing as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 1990. After seven outstanding seasons with the Colts, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997. Nicknamed “Goose,” he anchored the Ravens defense which is arguably considered the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. That defense helped lead Baltimore to a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. After the greatest sports achievement of his life, he jumped into the stands to embrace his family and bring his wife and daughter onto the field to join in the celebration.
He took a turn at acting, appearing in a four-episode story-arc as Frankie Cortese on The Sopranos in 2004, Spike Lee’s 2002 movie 25th Hour, as well as starring in the HBO sports-comedy series Arlis and the first season of “Hard Knocks.”
And what of the nickname Goose? Friends began calling Tony the “goose” as far back as grade school when the middle syllable of his last name, Sir-a-“gus”-a, seemed a fitting moniker. Later, as the “Goose’s” notoriety grew, and true to his theatrical personality, he let the goose loose with a bird-like goose walk he performed at games.
Strangely, the nickname was more apt than any would realize. Geese mate for life and are known to be incredibly protective of their partners and offspring. This could not be more true with Tony. He began dating his wife Kathy during his senior year of High School. The pair were inseparable from the start. Although diminutive to his 6’4” frame, Kathy was an all-state level gymnast herself. They were in sync where it counted - kids and family. The pair married in 1995. They were devoted to their children and loved family time at the Jersey shore, long vacations, and big holiday gatherings laden with Italian traditions, which always emphasized love, respect, and loyalty.
Siragusa loved to cook, but he was also a man of many interests. In his spare time he liked to hunt, fish, drive his boats, play golf, travel, and get off the grid by escaping to his upstate New York cabin. In addition to all of his hobbies, he took great pride in his patriotism showing support for the military, police and first responders everywhere. He was motivated to make other’s lives a little better by offering a handshake, a kind word, picking up the check of a police officer, on another day, seeing a man at a counter eating a meal he knew just worked so hard for to enjoy on this one day. Tony was a giver. It was his mission in life to leave a legacy of giving love, offering advice, making people feel they were the most important people in the world, and to spread laughter. No one was a better storyteller or could make people laugh harder than he could. His experiences were endless, his stories hilarious, the ability to make fun out of nothing was an extraordinary talent. When they say a jack of all trades, a man who wears many hats, that is no exaggeration. His being, his body, his soul, his persona, his personality, his vitality and love for life was supernatural and incompatible to anyone who walks this earth. His love of life, of family, friends, experiences, and all he touched personally, and all who only saw him on TV, or on interviews, for there was no difference. He was the real deal. We were blessed to be a part of what was only a sliver of what he had in store for all of us moving forward.
He was extremely close to his mother, Rosemarie. In early June 2022 he and the family took her to Jamaica to celebrate her 80th birthday. His father, Peter passed when Siragusa was attending Pittsburgh, but beforehand he taught Tony to take great pride in everything he did and to always put family first.
Siragusa loved spending time with friends - and he made many in his lifetime from neighborhood friends to professional sports figures, to radio personalities. He held onto his boyhood friends, among them a group of guys, known as the “Mozzarella Brothers,” who he befriended during Pop Warner Football, Recreation Wrestling, Little League Baseball or attending Harding Elementary School while in Kenilworth. A few more friends would join Tony’s inner circle in high school. The guys even started an Italian Club in Kenilworth and called it the American Dream Association. This group held blood drives, raised money for the local church and other civic organizations while celebrating their Italian heritage.
The Tony Siragusa Foundation raised countless funds for Make a Wish and numerous other charities as well as donations to anyone in need, especially in the town of Kenilworth.
“There was no one like Goose, a warrior on the field and a team unifier with a giving, generous heart who helped teammates and the community more than most people know,” said former Ravens coach Brian Billick in a statement (via NFL.com). Maybe Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay said it best,” Tony squeezed 200 years of living in 55 years of life.” (Via NFL.com)
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at St. Theresa Church, 541 Washington Ave., Kenilworth, NJ, 07033 from 1 to 8pm.
A funeral mass will be on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at St. Theresa Church, 541 Washington Ave., Kenilworth, NJ at 11am.
Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers please send all donations to Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
Anthony “Tony” Siragusa, 55, beloved son of Pete and Rosemarie, husband, father, and brother, passed away in his Ortley Beach home Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Formerly of Florham Park New Jersey, Siragusa also resided in Jupiter, Florida.
With an unforgettable personality and an uncommon talent on the football field, Siragusa went from small town hero to Superbowl fame. Along the way, he married his high school sweetheart Kathy, fathered three children, Samantha Rose, Anthony Peter, and Ava Kathleen, and charmed generations of fans who came to know him as “Goose.”
As one of the most popular players in Ravens history, Siragusa played in the NFL for 12 seasons as a Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle, and later a television analyst for Fox Sports from 2003 to 2015 on the network’s NFL broadcasts. He also co-hosted the DIY Network’s home renovation series Man Caves, which aired over 130 episodes from 2007 to 2015. More recently he was a partner in Titan Aviation Group, an aircraft charter business.
Despite all his success professionally, Siragusa was above all a family man, who took great pride in spending time with his children, his wife, his mom, his brothers Peter and Elio, their wives, Debbie and Tara, and children, and countless cousins and close friends.
He was deeply rooted in his hometown of Kenilworth- so much so that some might say you could take the “Goose” out of Kenilworth but you could not take Kenilworth out of the “Goose.” He played Pop Warner football, wrestled, played Little League Baseball, sang in the David Brearley High School (Kenilworth) chorus, won the 1985 NJSIAA HWT state wrestling championship, was a 1984 All State Lineman, while also contributing as the team’s punter and kicker. He even found time to play golf on the Brearley High School team. To culminate his high school accomplishments, he was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2022.
Even with all his fame, Siragusa never forgot where he came from, staying anchored to family, friends, former coaches, and even the cherished deli sandwich at Massimo Italian Delicatessen or slice of pizza at Three Guys. He loved to stop in at Bruno’s on Monroe and 12th Street and share a beer and a story at Buffy’s Tavern when he was in town.
This was Tony – a man of simple pleasures set against a grandiose presence. No matter where he went, he commanded the room, and for a time, the football field where he contributed to one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses.
Born on May 14, 1967, in Kenilworth, New Jersey, Siragusa played five years at the University of Pittsburgh and began his professional career by signing as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 1990. After seven outstanding seasons with the Colts, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997. Nicknamed “Goose,” he anchored the Ravens defense which is arguably considered the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. That defense helped lead Baltimore to a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. After the greatest sports achievement of his life, he jumped into the stands to embrace his family and bring his wife and daughter onto the field to join in the celebration.
He took a turn at acting, appearing in a four-episode story-arc as Frankie Cortese on The Sopranos in 2004, Spike Lee’s 2002 movie 25th Hour, as well as starring in the HBO sports-comedy series Arlis and the first season of “Hard Knocks.”
And what of the nickname Goose? Friends began calling Tony the “goose” as far back as grade school when the middle syllable of his last name, Sir-a-“gus”-a, seemed a fitting moniker. Later, as the “Goose’s” notoriety grew, and true to his theatrical personality, he let the goose loose with a bird-like goose walk he performed at games.
Strangely, the nickname was more apt than any would realize. Geese mate for life and are known to be incredibly protective of their partners and offspring. This could not be more true with Tony. He began dating his wife Kathy during his senior year of High School. The pair were inseparable from the start. Although diminutive to his 6’4” frame, Kathy was an all-state level gymnast herself. They were in sync where it counted - kids and family. The pair married in 1995. They were devoted to their children and loved family time at the Jersey shore, long vacations, and big holiday gatherings laden with Italian traditions, which always emphasized love, respect, and loyalty.
Siragusa loved to cook, but he was also a man of many interests. In his spare time he liked to hunt, fish, drive his boats, play golf, travel, and get off the grid by escaping to his upstate New York cabin. In addition to all of his hobbies, he took great pride in his patriotism showing support for the military, police and first responders everywhere. He was motivated to make other’s lives a little better by offering a handshake, a kind word, picking up the check of a police officer, on another day, seeing a man at a counter eating a meal he knew just worked so hard for to enjoy on this one day. Tony was a giver. It was his mission in life to leave a legacy of giving love, offering advice, making people feel they were the most important people in the world, and to spread laughter. No one was a better storyteller or could make people laugh harder than he could. His experiences were endless, his stories hilarious, the ability to make fun out of nothing was an extraordinary talent. When they say a jack of all trades, a man who wears many hats, that is no exaggeration. His being, his body, his soul, his persona, his personality, his vitality and love for life was supernatural and incompatible to anyone who walks this earth. His love of life, of family, friends, experiences, and all he touched personally, and all who only saw him on TV, or on interviews, for there was no difference. He was the real deal. We were blessed to be a part of what was only a sliver of what he had in store for all of us moving forward.
He was extremely close to his mother, Rosemarie. In early June 2022 he and the family took her to Jamaica to celebrate her 80th birthday. His father, Peter passed when Siragusa was attending Pittsburgh, but beforehand he taught Tony to take great pride in everything he did and to always put family first.
Siragusa loved spending time with friends - and he made many in his lifetime from neighborhood friends to professional sports figures, to radio personalities. He held onto his boyhood friends, among them a group of guys, known as the “Mozzarella Brothers,” who he befriended during Pop Warner Football, Recreation Wrestling, Little League Baseball or attending Harding Elementary School while in Kenilworth. A few more friends would join Tony’s inner circle in high school. The guys even started an Italian Club in Kenilworth and called it the American Dream Association. This group held blood drives, raised money for the local church and other civic organizations while celebrating their Italian heritage.
The Tony Siragusa Foundation raised countless funds for Make a Wish and numerous other charities as well as donations to anyone in need, especially in the town of Kenilworth.
“There was no one like Goose, a warrior on the field and a team unifier with a giving, generous heart who helped teammates and the community more than most people know,” said former Ravens coach Brian Billick in a statement (via NFL.com). Maybe Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay said it best,” Tony squeezed 200 years of living in 55 years of life.” (Via NFL.com)
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at St. Theresa Church, 541 Washington Ave., Kenilworth, NJ, 07033 from 1 to 8pm.
A funeral mass will be on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at St. Theresa Church, 541 Washington Ave., Kenilworth, NJ at 11am.
Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers please send all donations to Make-A-Wish New Jersey.