Anthony J. "Tony" Chiaramonte knew about tough times and hard work. That was as evident in his lifelong willingness to hold more than one job at a time and to venture into new business areas, as well as in his compassion for the many who spent a few nights in his family's home over the years when they needed a helping hand.

The Hampton native may have learned some of those lessons as a child, when times were so difficult that sometimes onion sandwiches - without bread - were on the menu and he was counted on to help take care of his mother, who had multiple sclerosis. "That's where the compassion came from," said his daughter, Diane Ebel, of Valencia.

Mr. Chiaramonte died Saturday at UPMC Passavant as a result of complications from heart surgery. He was 75.

His family is sponsoring a blood drive at St. Richard Church in Richland Sunday in part because he was given many units as his health failed.

The Richland resident never moved far from his roots, but his story isn't that of a man who sat still. He left school after ninth grade and went to work for Glenshaw Glass Co. in Shaler for 16 years. He later spent close to 30 years as an independent news distributor for the Pittsburgh Press and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Meanwhile, he and his wife, the former Joan F. Bennett, had two Land of Sweets bakeries in Shaler and Richland. Mrs. Chiaramonte's family had run Bennett's Bakery in Shaler. Later the couple founded Richland Soft Serve.

After Mr. Chiaramonte retired from the newspaper business a decade ago, he earned his GED and then his real estate license, joining his wife in selling residential real estate for Coldwell Banker. Mrs. Ebel said her parents, who were married 54 years, were exceptionally close.

Work and family were closely intertwined for Mr. Chiaramonte, whose eight children credit him with instilling in them qualities such as honesty, bravery, individualism, strong work ethics and kindness. Mrs. Ebel recalled her father teaching her how to fix things at home, just like her brothers.

His integrity was evident in moments like the one in which he walked out of a place a friend had taken him to because only whites were allowed.

Two sons - Roy Chiaramonte of Richland and Dean Chiaramonte of Etna - became police officers, which made their father very proud. The family is encouraging donations to North Hills Boroughs and Townships Police Association.

Music was such a passion that most family pictures show him playing a guitar and singing. He never drank, his daughter said, but he loved going to karaoke gatherings. A country music fan, one of his particular favorites was the George Jones hit, "He Stopped Loving Her Today."

Other survivors include his wife; daughters Gail Ann Chiaramonte of New Zealand, and Elaine Chiaramonte of Richland; sons Terry Chiaramonte of Florida, Danny Chiaramonte of Shaler, Glenn Chiaramonte of Richland; a brother, Clare Chiaramonte of Richland; 22 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. today at St. Richard Church in Richland. Burial will be in Allegheny County Memorial Park in McCandless.

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