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Anthony “Tony” Giovannitti, husband, father, brother, uncle, friend; 70, of Fayetteville, Georgia, passed away in Griffin, Georgia on Saturday, January 29th, 2022 after a long illness. Tony was born on December 10, 1951 in Camden, New Jersey to the late Angelina (Barbatto) and Frederico Giovannitti.
He received his BA degree from Gannon University and his Ph.D. in Mathematics from New Mexico State University. In 2018, Tony retired from Clayton State University (CSU) where he had worked for 14 years as Professor of Mathematics, Chair/Department Head of Mathematics, and Interim Dean of the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences. Prior to working at CSU, Tony taught at the University of West Georgia, the University of Southern Mississippi, Cal State – Long Beach, and New Mexico State University. He loved teaching mathematics, even as his career took him into administration.
Everyone that knew Tony loved him. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was often smiling or laughing. Kind, diplomatic, nonjudgmental, compassionate and loving, he tended to look at the bright side of situations and see the best in others. Tony loved spending time with his family and friends and being by the ocean. He also liked to golf, read, complete crossword puzzles, play board games, and travel. Tony was extremely proud of his Italian heritage and absolutely adored his big, loving family.
Tony was predeceased in death by his parents, brother Joe Giovannitti, sister Janine Fout, father-in-law F. Joseph Pelletier, brothers-in law Harry Smith and Marc Pelletier, and sisters-in-law Mariann Giovannitti and Beth Griggs.
He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Kim Pelletier, daughter Christin (Don) Kotula, son Gabriel Giovannitti, granddaughter Ellie Johnson Kotula, brothers Fred Giovannitti, Carlo (Mary Ellen) Giovannitti, and Tom (Maxine) Giovannitti, sisters Concetta Smith, Maria (Craig) Tahamont, and Ann (Robert) Jensen, mother-in-law Elizabeth Pelletier, brothers-in-law Al (Sharon) Fout, Bob (Karen) Goldman, and Steven Griggs, sisters-in-law Adina Giovannitti and Mary (Charles) Douglas, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A celebration of Tony’s life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Fayette Humane Society, P.O. Box 244, Fayetteville, GA 30214 or at FayetteHumane.org. The Giovannitti family is being assisted by Georgia Cremation, 1086 Hwy 54 W, Fayetteville.
Alphonsina Shay says
Where do I begin in decribeing the love, laughter, & compassion my Uncle Tony shared freely with everyone he came in contact with for a moment or a lifetime he shared the same. He will be greatly missed, his laugh will echo in my mind and heart til we meet again in our forever home in heaven. Please let it be known that I am his favorite niece that lives in Youngstown Ohio. What a wonderful world it would it be if we all saw the goodness through his eyes. I love you to the moon and back Uncle Tony.
Arms wrapped around all who remain on earth missing him hearts. 🙏❤️🙏
Brenda Moore says
Tony was a wonderful man and a fantastic friend. I will miss his ever present smile, his intellect and his cooking. Prayers for you Kim and much love to you on the loss of your adoring husband.
Lila and Lonnie Roberts says
Tony was one of a kind. He was funny, so very kind, and such a wonderful colleague. It is so hard to believe he is gone from this world. He loved his granddaughter, children and his dear wife, Kim. I will never forget all the times he came into my office with his iPad after visiting his granddaughter. He always was so very proud to show off his photos and videos. Condolences and love to Kim and the rest of the family.
Tony, you will be missed by so many.
Bernard Oparah says
My family and I came to know Tony & his beautiful family through his wife, Kim, who was my professional colleague. Our two families have shared numerous special moments over the years. I had the rare chance of visiting with him and Kim one week before he started his final journey home, and we had a wonderful time thankfully. Tony was a wonderful friend who always lightened up the occasion with his infectious smile and brilliant sense of humor. I’ll miss Tony, and I know he is in his creator’s care now. Kim, may the pleasant memories of your life with Tony nourish you now and always!
Peggy Burns Todd says
Tony’s wife, Kim, has been one my very best friends since 3rd grade. Meeting and marrying Tony was a huge bright light in Kim’s life. Tony was always so happy to see me and other members of my family. It was like he had known us forever. What a great guy. I’m so sorry he’s gone. I wish the best for his huge family.
Shannon Straughan says
I’m shocked and saddened to hear about Tony’s passing. I’m so grateful to have been able to spend many occasions with Tony and Kim. Kim has been one of my dearest girlfriends forever, it seems. She and Tony were meant to be together. Both having that same smart quick witted humor. Whenever I’ve thought of Tony and Kim, I always smile. Tony always smiling and laughing. Such a genuinely kind hearted soul and a life well lived. My condolences to all of his many loved ones, especially my dear friend Kim.
Marlo Archer says
My husband and I have referred to Tony as the “Liking-est Person on Facebook.” We’d post something about social justice and Tony would “like” it. We’d post a nature photo and Tony would “like” it. We’d post the most inconsequential thing that we’d suspect no one would even care about, and Tony would “like” it.
In December, 2018, a friend of mine led a month-long exercise in kindness that I decided to continue into 2019. I asked for 11 volunteers, besides myself to take responsibility for posting a kindness challenge for a month and Tony served during December, offering such gems as, “Have your smile at the ready. We all need it.” “When you go to pay for shopping, ask the person at the register how they are doing and don’t forget to listen.” and “As the year winds down, try to not only be kind to others, but also to this tiny planet we live on. For example, when you see trash on the ground pick it up and throw it in a bin if you can. Don’t worry about who threw it. Just help to clean up.”
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to us at the time, COVID-19 was starting to spread around the world and a few months later, we’d go into the quarantine shut-down that I don’t think we’ve really come out of yet. Now, more than ever, Tony’s admonitions to be kind to ourselves and each other are sorely needed. Tony will live on forever if we all follow the advice he offered for December 29th – “There are times that memories of people no longer here come to mind. Take some moments to let those memories live. And smile because we were so lucky to have them.”
Tony, I am smiling right now for having been so lucky to have you.
JAIME OREJAN says
I met Tony when he was a professor at Southern Miss, and I was finishing my Ph.D. We met playing Futbol (he was not very good at it😂 but we played all the time), and our friendship just grew from there. He was the lone American in our group (Sweeden, Denmark, Wales, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, France, El Salvador, and others), but he always reminded us that he was Italian and a stallion 😁
In all my years Tony never said anything ugly about anyone and always had something nice to say about everything and everyone. He always had a smile in his face and had a knack for telling the silliest jokes. I could write a dissertation on stories about Tony and the wonderful happy person he was, but I am sure all who knew him already know that about him.
I was there when he met Kim and was delighted to see them tie the knot; they were made for each other. Would love to tell the story of how they met, and I hope Kim is smiling as she recalls that day!
Kim, I am saddened by your loss, and I hope you find comfort in knowing all the lives that Tony touched. He had an everlasting positive impact on many of us. I am so fortunate that he was among my dearests of friends.
RIP my friend!
God be with you Kim during this difficult time, and I hope to see my friend in a heavenly pitch for another football ⚽match.
Anthony Giovannitti says
A wonderful, loving, compassionate, brilliant humble man. We so desperately need more good and decent people like you. This is a terrible loss for all of us. Eternal peace be with you.
Ashley A says
“Dr. G,” as he was affectionately called in his role as professor, was a very supportive and influential educator in my life. He came to Clayton State with perfect timing, as I was about to make that big decision for my next step, possibly going to Georgia Tech. He encouraged me to stay on for the Math degree that was coming up soon, and the rest is history. Math was actually not my strongest subject in high school, but I had the right encouragement and nurturing with the wonderful professors at Clayton State. Their influences live on in my chosen profession years later, as I discovered my love for Math and programming. I still remember his handwriting, which I thought was very neat. To some disappointment for him, I did not go into abstract algebra as my chosen field, but we had many laughs about that. I am sad that I will not have a chance to share with him the extent of his impact on my life.