Obituary of Antonio G. "Tony" Cosentino

Antonio G. “Tony” Cosentino, a retired computer engineer for the Veterans Administration, passed away on June 16, 2025, at the age of 85.

Tony had a remarkable life story. Born during World War II, his parents were forced to flee their home in Sicily and were living in Libya at the time of his birth. When it was safe to return, the family moved back to Sicily, and Tony spent his childhood in the southern coastal town of Gela. An only child, Tony grew up surrounded by a large extended family, many of whom still reside in Gela.

In 1954, at the age of 14, Tony and his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in East Boston. With the help of his cousins, he learned English and worked at a bakery owned by his uncle to help support his family. He graduated four years later near the top of his class at Boston English High School.

To pay for college, Tony joined the ROTC and attended UMass Amherst. His unit was later called to serve in Vietnam. During training, he was stationed in Louisiana, near Selma, in 1965, where he witnessed the civil rights movement firsthand—an experience that deeply shaped his worldview.

After returning from Vietnam, Tony met his future wife, Mary Louise (Bradshaw), in Burlington. She had been using his office while he was away at war. Their connection grew, and the couple married in 1974, eventually settling in Burlington in 1976. Tony later earned his MBA and worked for many years at Northrop Grumman, where he was part of the team that helped develop the Stealth Bomber. He eventually transitioned to the Veterans Administration, where he worked as a computer programmer until his retirement.

Tony and Mary built a warm, welcoming home in Burlington. With its backyard pool, their house became a summer gathering spot for family, friends, and their children's friends. For many years, they hosted an annual Christmas party the Sunday before Christmas, bringing together the Cosentino and Bradshaw families. In their earlier years, they enjoyed playing tennis and skiing. Later, they developed a love for travel—taking family trips across the U.S., including nearly a dozen visits to Disney World, and exploring Europe, including England, Paris, Naples, Rome, Pompeii, Venice, and Florence. A highlight was a return to Gela, where Tony reunited with family and childhood friends at a large family reunion.

Tony endured many hardships in his later years. In 2014, he tragically lost his eldest daughter, followed by the passing of his son the next year. He faced ongoing health challenges, including the effects of prostate cancer, but remained relatively comfortable during his final years at the VA facility in Bedford.

Tony was the beloved husband of the late Mary Louise (Bradshaw) Cosentino, who passed away in April 2023. He was the devoted father of John Cosentino of Burlington, Jennifer Cosentino of Burlington, the late Joseph Cosentino, and the late Laura Chambers. He was the cherished grandfather of Sarah Ewen and her husband Tyler Ewen and Samantha Chambers, and the proud great-grandfather of Morgan Ewen. He was also a close cousin of Grace Montouri and Antonio "Tonino" Savatta. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be private.  Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington. if you'd like to make a donation to VA Bedford Healthcare System in memory of Tony, please send a check payable to "Bedford VA" to the following address: VA Bedford Healthcare System
CDCE (135)
200 Springs Road
Bedford, Massachusetts 01730Please specify in the memo line of your check that your donation is in memory of Antonio Cosentino. The VA does not automatically notify the family of your donation. If you would like the VA to notify us, please enclose a note to say that you would like a notification of your donation sent to: John Cosentino 2 Janet Rd Burlington MA 01803 We thank everyone in advance for their donations.