Anthony Lariccia towered as a saint for the Valley

Rudyard Kipling, renowned English journalist and writer, is perhaps best known for this compelling stanza of his 1910 poem “If’’, a prescription for living an honorable life:

“If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds of distance run –

then yours is the earth and everything that’s in it.”

Anthony J. Lariccia of Boardman, who died last week at age 71, vividly embodied Kipling’s classic principle. Throughout his exemplary life, Mr. Lariccia seemingly used every second of every day to go the distance for the communities and people he so loved in the Mahoning Valley.

Though short in stature, Tony, as he was affectionately known by the legions of people whom he and his family assisted, stood exceedingly tall as a robust pillar of community enrichment in Youngstown, Boardman and throughout the region. As a philanthropist extraordinaire, Mr. Lariccia answered the call of steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie. In his 1889 treatise “The Gospel of Wealth,” Carnegie implored the wealthy of this nation to use their abundant resources to improve all aspects of society.

Mr. Lariccia’s generosity, of course, rested on a foundation of keen intellegence and public-minded integrity. His hard work and talent as a successful stockbroker and financial adviser for Merrill Lynch over four decades led to his rise to leadership positions in the company and its byproduct – an accumulation of wealth.

But unlike so many others who have risen to find good fortune, “the little kid from Struthers,” as he often humbly referred to himself, had no tolerance for arrogance and showy displays. In fact, he once told The Vindicator, “I’m deathly afraid of materialism. I never wanted to be ostentatious. I avoid mansions and Mercedes.”

Instead, Tony – and his family – consistently looked outward to find and fortify charitable causes in which they deeply believed. His generosity and compassion crossed a wide swath of endeavors and projects that touched the lives of deserving children, senior citizens, students at all levels of education and even dogs, cats and other companion animals.

Consider just a few of the tens of thousands of lives Mr. Lariccia touched through his selfless giving of time and money to respected organizations in our community.

He ranks as one of the largest supporters of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Youngstown. He paid for the expansive Lariccia Family Gymnasium and Aquatic Center at the DD & Velma Davis Family YMCA in Boardman. The Y’s value set of healthy living and social responsibility served as a perfect fit for the benefactor.

YSU PHILANTHROPY

Another community institution, Youngstown State University, became all the stronger, in part, because of Mr. Lariccia’s generosity.

“His leadership and his family’s support of the YSU Centennial Campaign, resulted in record fundraising of more than $50 million,” Ron Cole, university spokesman said. His philanthropy was rightly honored in naming the university’s reputable School of Finance and Accounting after him.

Mr. Lariccia’s commitment to young people and families also blossomed on many other fronts. He provided major assistance for upgrades to improve the 227-acre Boardman Park, including funding for a large community center there.

The recipient of the honored Ellis Island Medal also worked tirelessly to improve the lot of this region’s four-legged friends. Several years ago, he came to the rescue of Animal Charity to ensure it would remain open and active in saving animals from the ravages of abuse.

Over the years, he gave of his time and resources to ensure the growth of Angels for Animals and was instrumental in establishing its pet adoption center.

“We would not be where we are without the Lariccias,” said Diane Less, founder of the animal-welfare organization.

In addition, he and his family reached out to assist senior citizens. Several years back, they donated nearly $200,000 to guarantee the Mahoning County District Board of Health’s Adult Day Services program would remain healthy. That program provides transporation and helps many seniors live independently.

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti responded to that gift with these words of praise that we believe aptly describe the life and times of one of this community’s most sterling benefactors:

“When somebody is in need, there is a saint to help, and Anthony Lariccia is this community’s saint.”