Thursday, February 5, 2026
Jill and family, you have all been in our thoughts and we offer deepest condolences
My husband and I are out of the country at this time. We travel 5 months every year. I am so saddened that I won't physically be present to celebrate Tony and his very real place in my heart. Please do know that there will absolutely be some form of "aura" by the name of Dani that will be on Jill, Tony jr and Meghan's shoulders and wandering around hugging you and smiling from ear to ear .. not in a creepy way.. but full of love and memories of a man and his sense of humor and appreciation of people!
Jill, you and Tony were prominent in my career and on a certain level in my personal life, as we bumped along our merry ways, we always weaved in and out of places, events & hallways and always made time for a hug, a smile or a story.
Breathe a deep deep breath and please, allow those of us who truly care and love you from a distance and from right there beside you, take this weight from you, so you can just.."be" !
Tony was, of course, on my board interview in late 1987 and seemed to revel in my "hairstylist-rookie" responses to scenario testing. The likes of leaving an officer on lunch all day therefore others had no back up, "killing" an officer and hanging up on an eye witness observing a crime by saying a very polite and kind "well, thank you very much for your call .bye bye"- click!
I could see him at the end of the table smiling and trying not to laugh out loud while then, Staff Sgt Fred Ramsey (God rest his soul) berated me within inches of my face. My reaction was a smile and a shoulder shrug with the comment " well, I'm sure you have other officers" WOW!
Thinking I absolutely trashed this interview, I was just happy I was able to experience a REAL board interview for the first time and figured I would try something other than cutting hair, another time!
Tony saw something in me, that day, he knew was a good fit for dispatch and he was right! 32 years later retirement has been a blessing. God speed to a great man, gentleman and officer - I call "friend"! With all my love, Dani Baribeau