Antonio Castillo Concordia

Antonio Castillo Concordia was born on July 3rd, 1946, in Lipa City, Philippines, the son of Katipunero (soldier of the Philippine Revolution) Lazaro Pasco Concordia, Sr. and Mariquita Castillo Concordia and apo (grandchild) of Jose Concordia, Benita Pasco, Matilde Guevarra Castillo, and Katipunero Francisco Dimayuga Castillo. “Tonying” as he is lovingly called by his family, is the youngest son of 13 children: Pedro, Juan, Feliciano, Paz, Elena, Avelino, Albert, Felina, Felix, Lazaro Jr., Laura, and Josephine.

Tony, as he was known to his friends and shipmates, was an adventurer, risk taker, and dreamer. He enlisted into the US Navy in 1962. As legend would have it, he joined a year early, and was not quite heavy enough - ten pounds below the weight requirement. Not to be deterred, Tonying ate a bushel of saba (Filipino plantain) before his physical, and miraculously made weight. This would make him the first in his family (and their bridge), to immigrate to the United States.

He served on the USS Collett (Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer) in support of “search and rescue” operations off the coast of North Vietnam, and eventually completed his naval career in Alameda, CA. It was on that ship where his duties included supplying, rationing, and feeding hundreds of hungry sailors consistently and efficiently. These skills would continue to be honed, as that passion to feed people (his family, his children and their legions of friends, as well as the neighborhood) became one of his celebrated signature traits.

While stationed in San Diego, at the behest of his shipmates, Tony drove to Los Angeles to attend a house party where he met the girl of his dreams, life-long companion, and best friend, Leah Rinen Odoño. They would go on to marry on June 18, 1971. Together they were blessed with a family of four sons, Almichael, Artnelson, Johneric, and Christopher. They later welcomed their four daughters (through marriage) Emily, Paloma, Christine, and Araceli. 

He loved and adored his 9 grandchildren - Timyas, Alexandria “Alex”, John "Jack", Alon, Christopher Jacob “CJ”, Kalayo, Amihan, Matthew, and Leahlani, and proudly wore his “#1 Lolo” hoodie regularly.

For Tony, food was his love language, and sharing a delicious meal or discovering a new treat with loved ones was one of his greatest pleasures. Some of his favorites include family restaurants like Norms Diner and The Hat, In-N-Out, and chocolate ice cream. And of course water with extra ice accompanied every meal. He was a foodie before foodies were a thing, helping popularize small mom and pop establishments like Porto’s Bakery.

Tony loved exploring the world and visited over 20 countries (and well over 20 US states). He especially enjoyed the sights and cuisines of Italy, Switzerland, Panama, Costa Rica, and of course, the Philippines, where he particularly appreciated the bulalo (beef shank soup with extra marrow) from his childhood hometown.

Throughout his life he generously gave his time and resources in support of family, friends, and community. His approach to life was not to stress, but to be patient and joyful in moments of despair. He often said “Why worry? You’re going to get ugly and old.” Tony was a perpetual optimist, and always believed in better days ahead. Life being full of hardships, if you asked him when things will get better, his answer was always the same, “soon, very soon”.

Tonying had a knack at the card table, particularly with blackjack. And like life, he believed it to be a game of skill and strategy. If you played your cards right, and if you worked with the people at the table with you, you could beat the house. Whether setting sail across the seas at the age of 16, or finding the love of his life and raising a beautiful family, he always worked with the people at the table to improve his odds. Tony - beloved son, sibling, father, spouse, Lolo, Tito, and friend - stayed winning up until the very end.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor his legacy, tax deductible donations can be made to Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), a local organization in Historic Filipinotown that represents his unwavering commitment to bayanihan (community), youth empowerment, and his Filipino heritage. https://sipa.salsalabs.org/concordia/index.html