Family have paid tribute to a Saltcoats dad who passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
Anthony Joseph Cassidy, known as Tony, Cass or TC, was 67-years-old when he died unexpectedly on June 29.
His daughter, Toni Cassidy, said: “To say we are devastated is an understatement.”
Tony was born in Kilwinning, grew up in Saltcoats and had a number of jobs throughout his life.
He was an apprentice painter with the council, before working in Hunterston. He then became a taxi owner for a number of years before taking up a role as a porter at Ayrshire Central Hospital until he retired in April 2019.
Tony loved working with the patients, taking them to rehab appointments or delivering their meals.
Toni said: “My dad worked hard all of his life to make sure he provided for his family.
“We were the most important thing in his life and he made sure we knew it.”
Tony’s wife Tina, 60, was his greatest love. After trying to get her attention for months, his efforts eventually paid off and they had almost 40 happy years together.
Because Tony’s daughter Wendy had to fly back to Scotland from her home in Albir, Spain, where he loved to visit, the family had been unable to plan his funeral.
Due to the pandemic, they whole family were quarantined together for 14 days.
Toni and her wife Mags both work for the NHS, so this has been their first experience of isolation.
She said: “Grieving comes in waves for us all. I think because we are together 24/7, part of us tries extra hard to be strong for one another, probably not allowing ourselves to express our grief if that makes sense.”
The toughest part, she said, is feeling that you are not able to give Tony the send off he deserved.
Toni told the Herald: “He was an absolute gentleman, a quiet man with a fabulous sense of humour. He loved to socialise, meeting friends old and new along the way. Everyone would be met in the same way, with a smile.”
Tony was adored by both of his daughters and his grandchildren, Wendy’s daughter Lauren and son Paul.
Toni said: “We, as a family, are devastated. The kindness shown by our community has been so overwhelming; from the cards and flowers to the messages sent online.
“He made us so proud in life and equally as proud in death as it’s clear to see everyone saw the same man we did.”
Tony’s funeral is on July 17 at Ardrossan Cemetery at 1.30pm. His body will leave from the family home on Melbourne Terrace, ‘down the shore’ as he would say, if anyone wishes to say farewell from there.
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