Tony Del Balzo - Obituary

ony Del Balzo (né Francis Anthony Del Balzo, Jr.) On Saturday, December 27, 2025, Tony Del Balzo passed away at his home in Riva, Maryland, where he had resided for almost forty years. Tony was born in Tyler, Texas, on April 1, 1945, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was a proud graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1967, and served in Vietnam and on several naval ships in the South Pacific. While in Vietnam, Tony served as Psychological Warfare Advisor and Psychological Operations Officer, where he employed techniques such as leaflet distribution and loudspeaker operations by River Patrol Boats. Later, while serving on the USS Harold E. Holt, he was an integral part of the successful Mayaguez Incident that occurred in May of 1975. Though he resigned from the Navy highly decorated, he was always quick to demure, and said that his service paled in comparison to the sacrifice of those who served by his side. Tony later graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and went on to own a longstanding land development firm with his best friend from grade school. Tony met his wife, Thèa, in Fort Worth, Texas in 1980, and they married in 1981. Their daughter, Katie, was born two years later, and now he is survived by both of them, in addition to a wonderful son-in-law, Dann Coble, and the granddaughter who brought him so much joy, Autumn. He is also survived by his three brothers and sisters-in-law, Mike and Bonnie Del Balzo, Vince Del Balzo and Maureen Kennedy, and Joe and Maxine Del Balzo. He is predeceased by his parents, Frank and Mary Jane Del Balzo, of Silver Spring, Maryland. Per the request of the family, there will be no public viewing, and funeral arrangements will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Tony wished for donations to be made to the Democratic National Committee. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.