Tom Antonelli, Inc. Going “full steam” ahead since November 1967
by Cate Murway
[Mary Grace] Marie Cordisco, who grew up with 4 brothers and 2 sisters on Jefferson Avenue and Thomas Antonelli who lived with his parents and 2 brothers on Pear Street, met at Saint Ann Parish School in the first grade. Their family run 65,000 square foot warehouse for the wholesale heating & air conditioning equipment and supplies business, Thomas Antonelli, Inc. started in their 1 –car garage. Mrs. Antonelli took care of the books and the paper work while Mr. Antonelli also worked a part time position rebuilding controls at Universal Combustion in Tullytown, and was continuing his education at LaSalle College [now a University]. Going “full steam” ahead in November 1967, Tom Antonelli quit his job, they had their first child and they moved from their Jefferson Street home to Wood Street. They still maintain a location on Wood Street where heater controls and parts are rebuilt.
Tom’s father, Emidio [Derived from the Latin Hemigidius which means "demigod"], called Mike Antonelli, a Rohm and Haas employee, was born in Italy and Mary, his mother was a Philadelphia resident. Marie’s parents Philip, a carpenter and [Mary Angela] Anna Cordisco were both Italian immigrants. Bristol Borough became their home, Saint Ann became their Parish and both remain the home base for their families and their business today.
Tom Antonelli, who traveled with the Drum & Bugle Corps, graduated from N.E. Catholic for Boys in 1952 and was drafted into the Army, first being stationed at Fort Benning in GA. Traveling overseas was a more attractive option for Tom who was trained as a medic, so from 1956-1959, he performed the duties of a brace mechanic for the injured while in France.
Marie Antonelli procured her business education after graduating from Bristol Borough High School in a 2-year business program and then continued at Rider University. Her competent secretarial and shorthand skills secured an employment position at Schutte & Koerting, the leading designer and manufacturer of equipment for the process and power industries. Tom and Marie re-met in an alley, a Bowling Alley in the Country Club Shopping Center, [currently the Langhorne Square on E Lincoln Highway] and the family team, united in marriage at St. Ann Church, began a “league” of their own!
The Antonellis [surname means “inestimable strength”] have two daughters, Gina Marie and Christie, both graduates of St. Ann School and Villa Joseph Marie H.S. in Holland, PA. Gina, a Keystone College, La Plume, PA graduate, also designs and maintains the 24-hour access business web site, and her husband, Jeffrey E. King, a 1982 Holy Ghost Prep and Spring Garden College graduate are the General and Financial Managers of the Antonelli business. Their children, Brittany [14], a VJM frosh and Drew [11], a Grey Nun Academy student, both assist in the family business during school breaks by answering phones.
Christie Farinella, [husband, Louis is employed in the computer and electronic fields], graduated with a Psychology degree from Elizabethtown College and has recently joined Antonelli, Inc. in the Administration capacity after having worked in the MH/MR fields at The Woods Schools in Langhorne and S.P.I.N. in Philadelphia.
The current location of 2201 Hunter Road in the Green Lane Industrial Park was purchased in 2000 and the intense construction and rehabilitation began. Then in 2003, in 1 week and 95 tractor-trailer loads, the Tom Antonelli, Inc. Wholesale Heating and Air Conditioning Distributors relocated. They provide complete HVAC installation and repair services and offer a comprehensive user- friendly communication web page to check prices, place orders, create quotes and review orders or invoices.
Come in and visit their 1,600 square foot Showroom. Local businesses can book their 50 person meeting room for training or continuing education workshops. On Thursday, September 14th, the B-10 Biasi boiler system will be presented. It is a proven fuel efficient and durable heater with fuel saving technology, using a three pass boiler design to achieve a fuel savings of up to 40% over conventional single pass boilers.
Tom Antonelli, an avid golfer, is planning his own “club”, providing an opportunity for Small businesses to purchase a site in his “Canal’s Edge Business Park”. Most recently the life partners, Tom and Marie, have purchased more of the Industrial Park complex and are currently reconstructing the 4 buildings which will house flex condo spaces ranging fom 3,000 to 20,000 square feet. One of the first condos available for occupancy has been acquired by the Medical Express.
Warehouse Hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Saturday 8:00 –Noon, [Closed Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day], Closed Sundays.
All major credit cards accepted.
www.tomantonelli.com
Phone: 215.785.2558
Fax: 215.785.0191
E-mail: office@tomantonelli.com
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Thomas Antonelli
ANTONELLI, THOMAS, on Jan. 15, 2009. Predeceased by infant granddaughter Rebecca King and brother John Antonelli. Beloved husband of Mary Grace (nee Cordisco), devoted father of Gina Antonelli-King (Jeffry) and Christie Farinella (Louis); cherished grandfather of Brittany, Andrew and Angela. Also survived by brother Joseph Antonelli (Maryann), sister-in-law Dolores, and many nieces, nephews, and maternal Aunt Phyllis. Relatives and friends may call Tues. eve 6 - 9 P.M. and Wed. 9 - 10:15 A.M. at GALZERANO FUNERAL HOME, 3500 Bristol-Oxford Valley Rd., Levittown. Mass 11 A.M. St. Ann Church. Interment Resurrection Cem. Contributions to St. Ann Church, 357 Dorrance Street, Bristol PA 19007.
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Louis J. Farinella, Jr. passed away on April 28, 2017,
at the age of 78. Beloved husband of Florence B. (nee Piotrowicz);
loving father of Louis, III (Christie) and John (Mary);
cherished grandfather of John, Ryan, Tyler and Angela;
dear brother of Marie Shermer (Al).
Lou was employed by Congressman Bob Brady for the Democratic City Committee. Relatives and friends are invited to Lou's Life Celebration Sunday, May 7th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Monday, May 8th, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. at John F. Givnish Funeral Home, 10975 Academy Rd., Phila., followed by his Funeral Mass, 11:00 a.m., at the Church of St. Anselm, 12670 Dunks Ferry Rd., Phila. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.
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Mary Grace (Cordisco) Antonelli of Bristol, Pa., passed away April 15, 2019,
at Chandler Hall Hospice in Newtown surrounded by her loving family. She was 84. Born and raised in Bristol, she was the co- founder of Tom Antonelli, Inc., where she was the owner and operator for the past 50 years. Mary was a devoted lifelong parishioner of St Ann Church in Bristol. She enjoyed spending her summers down in Ocean City, N.J., with family. She also enjoyed cooking, baking and spending her time with her family especially her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Antonelli of 49 years; and her siblings, Fr. Philip Cordisco O.SS.T., Eugene Cordisco, David Cordisco, Vincent Cordisco, Angelina Grisolia, and Josephine Belardino. Mary will be greatly missed by her children, Gina King and her husband, Jeffry, and Christie Farinella and her husband, Louis; her grandchildren, Brittany (Ethan), Andrew, and Angela; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Galzerano Funeral Home, 3500 Bristol - Oxford Valley Road, Levittown, PA 19057. Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Ann Church, 357 Dorrance Street, Bristol, PA 19007. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Canine Companions for Independence, Attn: DogFest Philly-NJ, 286 Middle Island Rd. Medford, NY 11763. Galzerano Funeral Home, Bristol~Levittown www.galzeranofuneralhome.com
Jeff, Gina, Mary, Tom
1989
