Anthony Paul Filiberto, of Provincetown and Jacksonville Beach, Fla., died on Nov. 25, 2020, after an 11-month battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. He was 72.
Born on Sept. 22, 1948 to Anthony and Mary Filiberto, Tony, as he was known, lived in Amsterdam, N.Y., and graduated in 1966 from Wilbur Lynch High School, where he was the starting tackle on the school’s varsity football team.
After high school, Tony attended and played football at Curry College in Milton. Upon graduating, he settled near Albany, N.Y., and became director of day treatment and principal of St. Anne Institute, a nonresidential school for girls with problem pasts.
In 1981, he became chief operating officer of Liberty Enterprises in Amsterdam, N.Y., serving the area’s special needs population. He was the driving force behind its New Dimensions health clinic and, in 1994, the Foundation, an investment strategy for the organization’s funding.
In 2002, Tony began painting in his basement, developing artistic talents he said he inherited from his father. In 2006, he and his wife, Kerry, moved to Provincetown, where he reinvented himself as a full-time artist, studying with Anne Packard, Joan Pereira, Rob Longley, and Joan Lord.
Eventually, he developed a style of his own, using palette knives and caulking tubes. He successfully launched the Cortile Gallery and Cortile Artist Studios, and enjoyed a 14-year career in the oldest continuous art colony in America. Tony was an active member of the Beachcombers, a local club of artists, writers, and musicians.
Tony had a profound love of life and a passion for a diverse range of activities. He was an aficionado of the game of pool and could be found practicing daily on regulation tables in his studios in Provincetown and Jacksonville Beach. He participated in local leagues and attended national tournaments.
He loved music of all genres. He was a drummer and trumpet player, and would often be the last to leave local music jams. He had a passion for classic sports cars. His coveted Austin-Healey won competitive car shows, and he was always searching for the next sports car to admire, the Corvette Z06 having earned that honor before his passing.
He was an enthusiastic basketball fan and enjoyed all pro sports. One could engage him in conversation on any number of topics and discover his passion for each. He lived life as fully as possible, keeping friends and family close to his heart.
Tony is survived by his wife, Kerry Filiberto, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; a sister, Terese Nelson, of Provincetown; a brother, David Filiberto, of Hagaman, N.Y.; two sons, Christopher Filiberto of Boston and Gregory Filiberto of Albany, N.Y., and their mother, Sandra Farrington, of Amsterdam, N.Y.; and in-laws, nephews, nieces, and two grandchildren, Luca and Emily. His oldest son, Jason Filiberto, of Clifton Park, N.Y., predeceased him in 2019.
