Anthony Henry "Tony" Cervantes, '70, passed away on November 14, 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska. Lifetime Member.Cervantes, Anthony Henry | September 7, 1951 - November 14, 2022
He wrote the following:
I was born in La Junta, Colorado on September 7, 1951. Unwanted and a little boy in the 5th grade, I was sent to live at The City of Little Men, Father Flanagan's Boys' home, the real Boys Town. It was the zenith of Father Flanagan's dream. A true city of little men. It was a very turbulent and exciting time in America with big social changes happening and of course Vietnam.
Led by some very dedicated men and women who strongly believed in the philosophy of Father Flanagan, I received a well-rounded education. While in school, I discovered my love of music and took classes and learned how to play the violin, viola, slide trombone, clarinet and piano. I was even good enough to sing with the famous Boys Town Concert Choir, the best of the best. We toured every fall all over this beautiful country and sang in some of the smallest venues all the way up to Carnegie Hall. We performed a final concert for our brothers and staff at the music hall. Throughout the years the pleasure of singing with my fellow concert choir members brought back cherished memories. We still sounded good for a bunch of old men. Salve Mater Misericordiae.
On the athletic side, I lettered in swimming in grade school, in basketball in 7th and 8th grade and in football and basketball in high school. If you go out to tour the home and go into the Hall of History, the large red BT on display is mine, I donated it to the museum.
On the political side, I was a cottage commissioner and twice elected to sit on the city council representing Boys Town. It was quite an honor; as it was always my beloved home.
Upon graduation, the Vietnam War was still going on and in keeping up with the Boys Town tradition going all the way back to World War II, I wanted to serve our country and decided to enlist in the Marines. Hey, why not join the best? Returning back into the world was a shock. Like my fellow veterans, I was made to feel ashamed and didn't speak of my tour overseas. America was unappreciative. Like my fellow warriors, I put my uniform away, the one I was proud to wear. Thanks America. That hurt! C'est la vie.
I used my GI Bill benefit to obtain a college education. I worked part-time at the university radio station as a DJ. Our call letters were WSPO – The Music Oasis. I called myself: "The Brown Beauty on Duty," hey, it was the 70's! I then worked at a local television station as a weatherman, reporter, producer and staff announcer for 10 years. I made history by being the only Mexican-American to have their own weekly talk show in the state of Nebraska. Tired of that gig, I retired. When I went looking for work, I discovered just how many enemies I really had. I had to remain sanguine about my situation. I never forgot that snub. I ended up working at a medical facility as a manager and retired for good after 20 years of service there. Good riddance to punching a clock. No more office politics, cliques or backstabbing for me, so I thought.
I was a life member of the VFW Post 2503, DAV General MacArthur #2, Omaha. Past president of the Boys Town Alumni Association, Omaha Chapter and a life member of the National Boys Town Alumni Association. I was a Husker hater, anyone who knew me knew that; I was an Oklahoma Sooner Fan. Strike up the band and play that Boomer Sooner song, I loved it!
Being an atheist and pro-choice, I remained a bachelor. I like women, just not 24/7. Why get married and wake up to the same face and mouth every day? That's not a marriage, it's a sentence. Children? Hell no; out of the question.
I had to endure my final years tied to a dialysis machine at the VA Hospital. A true test of my ignominy. It was a grueling and brutal existence lorded over by civil servants who knew that they couldn't be fired and were immune of discipline. The selective preference for a certain group of patients was apparent and pathetic. I blame the poor leadership. I soured on the whole experience. I hated every moment I spent there. I definitely won't miss them and they won't miss me. Que sera sera. This is goodbye.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Tuesday November 22, 10am-12pm, at the Funeral Home. No viewing. Inurnment to follow 2pm at the National Cemetery of Omaha.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to go to the Boys Town Alumni Association.
He wrote the following:
I was born in La Junta, Colorado on September 7, 1951. Unwanted and a little boy in the 5th grade, I was sent to live at The City of Little Men, Father Flanagan's Boys' home, the real Boys Town. It was the zenith of Father Flanagan's dream. A true city of little men. It was a very turbulent and exciting time in America with big social changes happening and of course Vietnam.
Led by some very dedicated men and women who strongly believed in the philosophy of Father Flanagan, I received a well-rounded education. While in school, I discovered my love of music and took classes and learned how to play the violin, viola, slide trombone, clarinet and piano. I was even good enough to sing with the famous Boys Town Concert Choir, the best of the best. We toured every fall all over this beautiful country and sang in some of the smallest venues all the way up to Carnegie Hall. We performed a final concert for our brothers and staff at the music hall. Throughout the years the pleasure of singing with my fellow concert choir members brought back cherished memories. We still sounded good for a bunch of old men. Salve Mater Misericordiae.
On the athletic side, I lettered in swimming in grade school, in basketball in 7th and 8th grade and in football and basketball in high school. If you go out to tour the home and go into the Hall of History, the large red BT on display is mine, I donated it to the museum.
On the political side, I was a cottage commissioner and twice elected to sit on the city council representing Boys Town. It was quite an honor; as it was always my beloved home.
Upon graduation, the Vietnam War was still going on and in keeping up with the Boys Town tradition going all the way back to World War II, I wanted to serve our country and decided to enlist in the Marines. Hey, why not join the best? Returning back into the world was a shock. Like my fellow veterans, I was made to feel ashamed and didn't speak of my tour overseas. America was unappreciative. Like my fellow warriors, I put my uniform away, the one I was proud to wear. Thanks America. That hurt! C'est la vie.
I used my GI Bill benefit to obtain a college education. I worked part-time at the university radio station as a DJ. Our call letters were WSPO – The Music Oasis. I called myself: "The Brown Beauty on Duty," hey, it was the 70's! I then worked at a local television station as a weatherman, reporter, producer and staff announcer for 10 years. I made history by being the only Mexican-American to have their own weekly talk show in the state of Nebraska. Tired of that gig, I retired. When I went looking for work, I discovered just how many enemies I really had. I had to remain sanguine about my situation. I never forgot that snub. I ended up working at a medical facility as a manager and retired for good after 20 years of service there. Good riddance to punching a clock. No more office politics, cliques or backstabbing for me, so I thought.
I was a life member of the VFW Post 2503, DAV General MacArthur #2, Omaha. Past president of the Boys Town Alumni Association, Omaha Chapter and a life member of the National Boys Town Alumni Association. I was a Husker hater, anyone who knew me knew that; I was an Oklahoma Sooner Fan. Strike up the band and play that Boomer Sooner song, I loved it!
Being an atheist and pro-choice, I remained a bachelor. I like women, just not 24/7. Why get married and wake up to the same face and mouth every day? That's not a marriage, it's a sentence. Children? Hell no; out of the question.
I had to endure my final years tied to a dialysis machine at the VA Hospital. A true test of my ignominy. It was a grueling and brutal existence lorded over by civil servants who knew that they couldn't be fired and were immune of discipline. The selective preference for a certain group of patients was apparent and pathetic. I blame the poor leadership. I soured on the whole experience. I hated every moment I spent there. I definitely won't miss them and they won't miss me. Que sera sera. This is goodbye.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: Tuesday November 22, 10am-12pm, at the Funeral Home. No viewing. Inurnment to follow 2pm at the National Cemetery of Omaha.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to go to the Boys Town Alumni Association.