Anthony J. "Tony Dee" DeFrancesco, 82, of Phillipsburg, died Monday, November 15, 1999 in Easton Hospital in Wilson Boro, Pa.

Tony earned his barbers license in 1934 during his junior year at Easton High School. After graduating high school in 1935, he worked as a barber until 1941. From 1945 to 1955, he worked in the cutting room of the former M.M. Bernstein & Sons Garment Factory in Phillipsburg. In 1955, he returned to his barber trade working for area barbers, including Mike and Sam Frinzi in Phillipsburg. In 1959, Tony began his own barbershop, known as Dee's Barber Shop, which he operated from his home for the past 40 years.

Born February 18, 1917 in Easton, he was the son of the late Carmen and Mary Vulcano DeFrancesco.

He was a member of St. Philip and St. James Roman Catholic Church in Phillipsburg, where he was a past president of the Holy Name Society. He was also a charter member of the Serra Club of Warren County which is a Catholic organization who's mission is to promote vocations to the priesthood, deaconate and religious life.

Tony is perhaps best known in the Phillipsburg area for his twenty-nine years of dedication to organizing the annual Phillipsburg Day at Veterans Stadium. As the founder and chairman of the event, Tony was responsible for organizing the school bands and choirs, little league all-star teams, bus transportation and thousands of Phillipsburg area residents for the trip to Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia each year. During the 1980 baseball season, the year when the Phillies won the World Series, Tony was instrumental in taking more than 1,700 people on more than twenty buses to the event. In addition to Phillipsburg Day, Tony organized several bus trips for his loyal Phillies fans each year to see the Phillies.

In 1942, Tony entered the U.S. Navy where he attained the rank of Sonar Man Second Class on the USS Marts in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, and had earned the World War Two Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the African European Middle Eastern Medal. Having received an honorable discharge from service in 1945, Tony returned home and later joined the Bernardine-May American Legion Post 457 in Phillipsburg, where he has been a devoted member for nearly 40 years. Tony's dedication to the Legion was evident in the fact that in the nearly 40 years of his membership in the Legion, he had served as a past commander and had never missed marching with his fellow comrades in the annual Memorial Day Parade in Phillipsburg.

Tony enjoyed being active, and when he wasn't giving haircuts and attending baseball games, he enjoyed his weekly rounds of golf, bowling, gardening, taking walks and exercising.

He was also a member of the Order of Flea's in Easton.

While he was working for Bernstein's, Tony met Mary Bianco, who later became his wife on July 3, 1948. Tony and Mary observed their 51st wedding anniversary July 3rd. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Deborah D., wife of James Wyant of Forks Township, Pa, a granddaughter, Leah Rachelle Wyant and a grandson, Michael Anthony DeFrancesco Wyant. A brother, Placido F. "Pat" DeFrancesco and two sisters, Grace Schrio and Felicia Haffner all died earlier.

Funeral services will be held 10:15 a.m. Saturday from the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 S Main St., Phillipsburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Corona at 10:45 a.m.in St. Philip and St. James Church, 426 South Main St., Phillipsburg. Entombment will take place in Holy Apostles Mausoleum, Greenwich Twp., NJ. Calling hours will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

The family requests memorial contribution to St. Philip and St. James Church, 430 South Main St., Phillipsburg, NJ, or The Bernardine-May American Legion Post 457, 321 Marshall St., Phillipsburg, NJ or to Phillies Charities, PO Box 7575, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7575. Contributions to any of these charities can also be made at the funeral home.