Anthony Somerfield

Anthony Somerfield, Jr. ,88, was carried to Heaven on Tuesday, March 30 2017, at Rhode Island Hospital. His illness was short, but his love of life was long. He was the husband of Elsie Victoria (Perry) Somerfield, the love of his life. Tony, as he liked to be called, was born on August 5th, 1928 in Saginaw, Michigan to Anthony and Leona (Mitchell) Somerfield.He graduated from Saginaw High School, and joined the Navy during World War II. He left the Navy in 1948, then met and married Elsie, after a whirlwind romance, on January 17, 1948 in Newport, RI. They were deeply in love. After moving to Michigan, they returned to live in Newport. Tony got a job at Plantations Bank as a teller. He fell in love with banking, and eventually rose to the position of Assistant Vice President. In a time when branches of banks were not so heavily ruled by the corporate structure of today, and managers held more sway over the success of failure of individual branches, Tony was an excellent leader, and a successful banker. With his kindness, innate intelligence, charm, and love of people from all backgrounds, especially those who had gone through hard times as he had living through the Great Depression of the 1930's, Tony built his branches one customer at a time, all valued equally. He went to work at Old Stone Bank and remained in the banking business for many years performing a variety of duties for the public. People valued his expertise and knowledge. The last twenty-five years of his life he worked for the Marriot Hotel in Newport, RI. At a time when most people were long retired, Tony still got up four days a week and went to work; even at the age of 88. His stamina was amazing. At home he would work 4 to 8 hours a day [well into his 80's] on the job he always loved the most; taking care of his yard, planting his flowers and trees, and tending to it all with great care. His property was a thing of beauty. He was somewhat of a "plant whisperer."Tony leaves his wife, Elsie; two children, Sharon Leslie Scott [John] from Tiverton, RI, and Bruce Anthony Somerfield (Paula Darling) from Albany, California. He also leaves his three grandchildren, Christopher Marikian, Jennifer Scott, and Bryan Scott.He is predeceased by his sister Agnes Defur, and his brother Jack Somerfield, and is survived by his brother Frank Somerfield, his sister Dolly Harmer, and his brother, Jim Somerfield, as well as many nieces; nephews; great-nieces; great nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.He was a loving husband and devoted father, giving his love and support that was cherished by all that knew him.At Tony's request there will be no visiting hours.Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church, Spring St., Newport, R.I. beginning at 10 AM, On Monday, April 3rd, 2017, followed by a burial service at the chapel of St. Columba Cemetery, Brown's Lane, Middletown, RI.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 1st Jude Place Building, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 300, Memphis, TN 38105. Cemetery Details St. Columba Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, 02842