Anthony (Ceracchi) Ceracche (1924 - 1999)

Born 11 Feb 1924 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States

Died 4 Dec 1999 at age 75 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Biography

Anthony was born in 1924. He passed away in 1999.

Obituary

Anthony Ceracche, 75, local cable television pioneer, and real estate developer, died Saturday, December 4, 1999 at the Sloan Kettering Institute in New York City. He was born in Rochester on February 11, 1924, son of the late Angelo and Consolina Rossi Ceracche. Tony graduated from Ithaca High School in 1942 and served with the United States Navy during World War II. Following his discharge from the Navy, while working as a tool & dye maker at N.C.R., he developed a part time business selling the newly invented television sets around town. Since reception was so poor, he decided to try coaxial cable instead of antennas. That is how cable television for the area was born, as he was only one of a few cable television operators in the country at the time. Later the system was expanded to include Horseheads, Candor, Montour Falls, Saugerties and South Fallsburg. In addition to expanding the system, he most enjoyed designing and inventing his own equipment that would improve cable reception for his customers. Ceracche Television was started in 1952 and in 1957 provided a local cable television channel to Ithaca College. During the 1970's Tony played an active role in the New York State Cable Television Association serving on the Board of Directors, was a two term President of the Association and received the Association's Distinguished Service Award. In 1976 Tony sold Ceracche Television to Time Warner.

During the 1960's and 70's Tony became very active in real estate development. He built Candlewyck and the Terrace Apartments and purchased Fall Haven Apartments. In 1969 he got together with Walter Wiggins to build a hotel in Aruba. That hotel would grow to become the Divi Divi Hotel Corporation which built numerous other hotels in the Caribbean. In 1979 he contributed funds toward an athletic center at Ithaca College, the Anthony Ceracche Athletic Center at Ithaca College, and also established a fund for scholarships as well as an award given to outstanding Ithaca College graduates in the field of Communications. Former award recipients include Robert Iger and Bob Kur. In 1979 he made it possible for the Family & Children Service to purchase their facility on West State Street and donated money necessary for the needed renovations.

In addition to several associations within the television and communications fields, Tony also served as Chairman of the City of Ithaca Planning Board and chaired the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency for two years. He was a long time member of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Tony is survived by his wife of 22 years, Wendy; his children, A. Ceracche, N. Herring and E. Greenburg; his four grandchildren; and a great grandchild. He is also survived by his sister, C. Theresa Macera; his 2 nephews; and his former wife, Angela Servidone.

Published in The Ithaca Journal, Tues., Dec. 7, 1999

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #164162746
• https://www.newspapers.com/image/255764431/
• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JTB4-9P8 : 20 May 2014), Anthony Ceracche, 04 Dec 1999; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ5W-14F : 21 December 2019), Anthony Ceraacchi in household of Angelo Ceraacchi, Ward 4, Ithaca, Ithaca City, Tompkins, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 55-34, sheet 7B, line 47, family 140, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2793.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X78D-417 : accessed 9 June 2022), Anthony Ceracchi in household of Angelo Ceracchi, Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 165, sheet 13A, line 20, family 246, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1453; FHL microfilm 2,341,188.