Anthony Sbragia Tribute

In about 1981 Tony gave me a charcoal of a brawny man’s torso. It’s been on my wall since then. Today (June 2011) I looked at it and thought I’d look Tony up after so many years and have him finally sign it. I Googled him and found this memorial and then went into a pensive flash-back of Tony when he was seventeen and studying ballet with me in Santa Rosa. It was long ago but eerily like yesterday. I modeled for him around that time and he gave me one of the results. He did sign that picture. He titled it, “Roger peeved,” because it came out with me looking that way.
We hung out a few times over the years and went dancing at Russian River in the heyday. He was eighteen the first time at R.R. so we both used my ID. I’d walk in and get my hand stamped, then come out and give him the ID. I was twenty-three and we could pass for brothers, more or less, so we got away with it every time. My only restrictions were that he couldn’t drink alcohol or get fresh with anyone because I thought it would look bad, contributing to a minor and all that. That first time we went out (we were platonic by the way) I asked him to wear something that would make him blend in. He wore white pants, a white sweater, a black belt and black boots. I thought we’d be goners but there we were dancing away to his favorite song, Gloria, with Tony glowing in the black light and lasers.
The last time I saw him was in San Francisco almost twenty years ago. We chatted for a bit and agreed to keep better in touch.

In about 1981 Tony gave me a charcoal of a brawny man’s torso. It’s been on my wall since then. Today I looked at it and thought I’d look Tony up after so many years and have him finally sign it. I Googled him and found this memorial and then went into a pensive flash-back of Tony when he was seventeen and studying ballet with me in Santa Rosa. It was long ago but eerily like yesterday. I modeled for him around that time and he gave me one of the results. He did sign that picture. He titled it, “Roger peeved,” because it came out with me looking that way.
We hung out a few times over the years and went dancing at Russian River in the heyday. He was eighteen the first time at R.R. so we both used my ID. I’d walk in and get my hand stamped, then come out and give him the ID. I was twenty-three and we could pass for brothers, more or less, so we got away with it every time. My only restrictions were that he couldn’t drink alcohol or get fresh with anyone because I thought it would look bad, contributing to a minor and all that. That first time we went out (we were platonic by the way) I asked him to wear something that would make him blend in. He wore white pants, a white sweater, a black belt and black boots. I thought we’d be goners but there we were dancing away to his favorite song, Gloria, with Tony glowing in the black light and lasers.
The last time I saw him was in San Francisco almost twenty years ago. We chatted for a bit and agreed to keep better in touch.

In about 1981 Tony gave me a charcoal of a brawny man’s torso. It’s been on my wall since then. Today I looked at it and thought I’d look Tony up after so many years and have him finally sign it. I Googled him and found this memorial and then went into a pensive flash-back of Tony when he was seventeen and studying ballet with me in Santa Rosa. It was long ago but eerily like yesterday. I modeled for him around that time and he gave me one of the results. He did sign that picture. He titled it, “Roger peeved,” because it came out with me looking that way.
We hung out a few times over the years and went dancing at Russian River in the heyday. He was eighteen the first time at R.R. so we both used my ID. I’d walk in and get my hand stamped, then come out and give him the ID. I was twenty-three and we could pass for brothers, more or less, so we got away with it every time. My only restrictions were that he couldn’t drink alcohol or get fresh with anyone because I thought it would look bad, contributing to a minor and all that. That first time we went out (we were platonic by the way) I asked him to wear something that would make him blend in. He wore white pants, a white sweater, a black belt and black boots. I thought we’d be goners but there we were dancing away to his favorite song, Gloria, with Tony glowing in the black light and lasers.
The last time I saw him was in San Francisco almost twenty years ago. We chatted for a bit and agreed to keep better in touch.

Tony and I met years ago when I was painting in a cafe up the street from where he was painting plein-air a Castro Victorian. We chatting and hung out while he worked on that painting, and frequnetly in the 1990s as we both struggled to be productive artists in SF. I knew watching him paint that Victorian, and through the years I knew Tony, that if I ever opened a gallery, he'd be one of the first artists I'd invite to show there. Well, I'm opening the gallery in March 2008 and Tony was the first artist friend I started really searching for online. I found this tribute and my tears today are fresh, learning that he is no longer paiting down the block or somewhere across town, or even down in Mexico. I wish I had had the chance to show Tony how much I respected him and his art. I regret that my gallery has come too late to feature part of Tony's beautiful vision with the world.

god bless you and your loved ones always!

My favorite memories with you were spent sitting on Nona's front porch swing. You always made Easter at Nona's so special with the undivided attention you gave me when I was such a little girl. You were and are my big cousin who I missed out on knowing in adulthood. Tony you were in my thoughts so much yesterday and I am sure you were missed by many more people than just me. I love you and miss you. Muah.