Dear SJA Community,

On behalf of the Marist Brothers and the entire SJA community, we mourn the loss of Mr. Tony Cantu ’75 who passed into eternal rest on Saturday, December 17, 2022.

Very rarely does a person become synonymous with an organization or institution—yet Tony Cantu’s legacy will forever be linked to his lifelong work and dedication to his ministry at St. Joe. He dedicated over 40 years of his life to St. Joseph Academy, as a student and a beloved teacher/Campus Minister. He was the definition of what it meant to be truly Marist and he will be dearly missed by our entire community. As the history of St. Joe is retold, Tony Cantu will forever be a legend in that story. Not only is Tony’s loss felt immensely here on our campus, but he also touched so many other lives around our Marist World.

When the province first created our Marist Mission in Liberia, they needed to educate the teachers there on how to teach Religion from a Marist perspective. Tony was the person chosen to best accomplish that task and he did so remarkably during his time in Liberia.

He also represented the Marist Province at many International meetings and was an active member of one of their Arco Norte committees. He helped ensure that the Marist Encounter program continued to impact the lives of most juniors at SJA. For the past twenty years, he was a key participant and visionary for many of the Province's Evangelization Programs.

As we attempt to navigate life at St. Joe without Tony’s presence, let us pray for the repose of Mr. Cantu’s soul and for the needs of his family and friends. 

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Saint Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.

Mary Our Good Mother, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

And let us remember, to pray for each other.

Blessings from the entire SJA community,

Michael Motyl 

President 

Obituary