Anthony "Tony" P. Donato, age 75, died Saturday March 23, 2019 after a hard-fought battle with pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. Tony was born April 12, 1943 to Joseph and Josephine (Gallo) Donato in Hartford, CT. He grew up in Farmington, CT, but lived most of his adult life in East Hartford, CT where among many other things, he was an established business owner of Donato's 212 Lounge throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Tony always dreamed of retiring to Florida so he could live life as if he were on an endless vacation. Eight years ago he was able to fulfill his dream, Tony and his wife Lillian moved to Crane Lakes in Port Orange, Florida in May of 2011; he called it paradise, and could not have been any happier. Besides his family, he was most proud of having served our great country in the United States Marine Corps. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Marine Corps never left him, as friends and family will attest.

Tony is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Lillian (Erickson) Donato; two daughters Doris Kleef and Venita Frasca, and her significant other Billy Shoaf; sister Connie Esposito and her husband Dominic; brother Vinny Donato and his wife Phyllis. Tony is also survived by five grandchildren, his Pupa Bella Gina Kleef and her significant other Kenneth Levesque, Paul Kleef, Kyle Kleef, Joseph Frasca, and Raighlee Shoaf. He also leaves behind his beloved great-grandson, Payton Levesque. Lastly, Tony leaves behind several cousins, nieces, and in-laws whom he loved dearly. Tony was predeceased by; his first-born daughter Kimberlin Jean Donato, mother Josephine (Gallo) Donato, father Joseph Donato, and son-in-law Paul Stanley Kleef.

To honor Tony's wishes, his family will remember him privately.