Viewing page 414 of 440

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[images - scenes from the Antonio Thomas Rasmus funeral]]

ANTONIO THOMAS RASMUS
Feb., 1913—Oct., 1981

DEATH DOES BRING CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND. THE WARMTH AND ASSOCIATION OF FORMER DAYS ARE GONE. THERE IS SILENCE, FINALITY, INCOMMUNICABILITY AND DISTURBANCE. BUT FOR THE ONE WHO HAS TRIUMPTED, THERE IS PEACE. SORROW IS CENTERED MORE ON SELF THAN ON THE DECEASED. WE GRIEVE, YET WE WOULD NOT WANT OU RGRIEF TAKEN FROM US, EVEN IF IT COULD BE, FOR OUR LOVE IS WRAPPED UP IN OUR GRIEF. GRIEF IS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE. LOVE IS ETERNAL. DEATH IS A HORIZON AND THE HORIZON IS ONLY THE LIMIT OF OUR SIGHT. IT HAS BEEN SAID, "DEATH IS NOT EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHT, BUT PUTTING OUT THE LAMP BECAUSE THE DAWN HAS COME."

***

WE REMEMBER ANTONIO THOMS RASMUS WHO PASSED AWAY OCTOBER 1, 1981 HAVING SUFFERED A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK. ANTONIO THOMAS RASMUS WAS BORN FEBRUARY 13, 1913, ONE OF THREE CHILDREN FROM THE UNION OF THERESA AND THOMAS RASMUS IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. MANY HAPPY YEARS WERE SPENT BY ANTONIO IN ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN'S VIRGIN ISLANDS, THE HOME OF HIS PARENTS. TONY, AS HE WAS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED, WOULD SPEND MANY PLEASANT HOURS AT HIS MOTHER'S SIDE TELLING OF HIS EXPERIENCES WITH FRIENDS AND OTHER RELATIVES OF THE TRAVELS WITH THE BOYS CHOIR WHERE HE WAS PRAISED FOR HIS TALENTED, EXCEPTIONAL SOPRANO-TENOR VOICE. TONY WAS A PRODUCT OF CHATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

TONY LIVED A LOVE STORY WITH LIFE, REMINISCING MANY ANECODOTES OF TIMES SPENT SERVING HIS COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR II FACING THE TRAGEDIES OF WET, COLD FOX-HOLES IN EUROPE. HE MADE MANY TRIPS SOUTH MAKING COMPARISONS OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, GOOD SOUL FOOD, CHURCH PICNICS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS. THESE EXPERIENCES GAVE HIM THE EMPATHY AND GACKGROUND WHICH INSPIRED HIM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE INHUMAN CONDITIONS OUR PEOPLE FACE. TONY BECAME INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN DIGNITY. AS A RESULT OF HIS SELF-COMMITMMENT, TONY JOINED THE CARVER DEMOCRATIC CLUB WHERE J. RAMOND JONES WAS THE LEADER. TONY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS LEAD HIM TO THE SUCCESSFULY ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS OWN CLUB, THE TRUMAN DEMOCRATIC CLUB, WHERE HE WAS DISTRICT LEADER IN THE 13TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS. HE ATTRATED YOUNG, ENERGETIC, AMBITIOUS