Anthony Francis Daddino was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York to Francis and Anna (Agrippino) Daddino, children of Italian immigrants from Southern Italy.
He graduated from St. John’s University with a BBA in Accounting and became an accountant specializing in audits of Wall Street-related financial firms at Peat Marwick, Mitchell & Co. While the Partner-in-charge of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc. (DLJ), a young start-up Wall Street research boutique, he was recruited to be its Chief Accounting Officer. As the company grew into a powerhouse investment and merchant bank, Tony became DLJ’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer.
As a member of the Executive Committee of the firm he would lead financially for 24 years. The strong financial, control and risk management functions he created, informed by his common sense, investment experience and high integrity, led the firm to prosper significantly beyond its apparent size. In 1970, DLJ shook up the financial establishment by becoming the first New York Stock Exchange member to offer its equity securities to the public. Tony was responsible for the coordination of these efforts and the firm established a holding company that was exempted from the stock exchange’s restraints on member firms. Tony’s meticulous attention to detail served DLJ as it acquired an assortment of firms unrelated to its core business.
In 2000, DLJ was sold to Credit-Suisse First Boston (“CSFB”) and Tony oversaw the financial combination of both firms. He held the position of Chief Administrative Officer and was a Member of the Board and the Executive Committee of CFSB. After a productive and consequential Wall Street career, Tony retired in 2002.
Once retired, Tony became a board member of several organizations that focused on improving the lives of members of his community – Blair Academy in New Jersey, and St. Luke’s Lifeworks (St. Luke’s, now Inspirica) and Greenwich Adult Day Care (GDAC, now River House), both in Connecticut. His financial acumen was relied upon as he became the Treasurer and Head of the Budget & Finance Committees of St. Luke’s and GADC, and a valued member of the Investment, Budget & Finance and Student Life Committees at Blair Academy. At the time of his death, Tony served on the Advisory Boards of MAP Education & Research Foundation, where he also served as Treasurer, and Applico LLC, a business consultancy firm providing services for traditional enterprises adapting to a platform business model.
Tony was a giant – but you wouldn’t know that just by seeing him on the street. His demeanor was exceedingly gentle – and aside from the precious, surgically delivered joke here or there – stoically quiet. He was selfless and humble and never sought the spotlight or credit for the many things he did for others throughout his personal and professional life. He donated time and treasure to the organizations that he and his wife, Susan Bevan, supported – but he also was a generous father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. His respect for education, born from being the first of his large family’s generation to go to college, led to him underwrite college expenses for his young family members and provide scholarships through private Catholic elementary schools in Brooklyn.
Tony was not Italian for nothing – he made the best lasagna on the planet. His attention to detail in laboriously making red sauce over the course of 3-4 days is a blueprint for how he lived his life, where patiently playing the long game truly delivers the best results. He had an extensive model train collection which was displayed in the office, exercise room, and playroom of his home. Anyone who knew him would not be surprised to know that the collection was impeccably inventoried with details about the date, price and location in the house of each engine – and that each original box was carefully preserved.
Tony was also a very good sport. As an adult, he took up skiing, tennis, golf, and boating which led to many family outings. He was a member of The Stanwich Club, Glen Arbor Golf Club and The Belle Haven Club – places where happy memories with both family and friends were created. He also took up photography – with lessons! – as a retirement activity and delighted in making photo albums of every holiday, vacation, and life milestone for all participants in each joyful event.
Tony’s success in business was only eclipsed by his great success in his personal life. As a father of five sons and a daughter, he loved nothing more than being with his family. With his wife, Susan, and their three children, the family traveled the world widely and received much joy from sharing varied experiences. Every night – EVERY NIGHT – into their teens, Tony read books to his children – including the entire Oz series of over three dozen books – which was followed by a prayer where he asked for blessings for the entire extended family. This was a powerful lesson; think about the people we love every single day and talk about them one by one to teach their importance and how much we care about them. Tony was grandfather to seven children, all of whom loved and respected him very much. Tony adored babies – there was a light and happiness whenever he was holding a baby. To his great delight, the presence of his three most recent grandchildren and a baby grandniece eased his mind and comforted his heart in the last months of his life.
Tony died peacefully and pain free from complications of lung cancer on August t, 2022. Four of his six children and his wife were with him as he took his last breath after his beloved Yankees won their only game in a series against his wife’s home team, the Seattle Mariners.
A Celebration of Life will be held later this fall. Memorial donations may be made to any charity of your choice, or to River House’s Family Care Fund in honor of Anthony F. Daddino.