Cdr Anthony W. (Tony) Depaul Jr

Anthony W. (Tony) DePaul, Jr, 84, of Port St. Lucie, FL passed away July 19, 2022. Tony was a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Massachusetts, where he majored in Accounting and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Program in June of 1959.

Following commissioning, Commander DePaul served as Assistant Boat Group Commander on board the attack transport USS CAMBRIA, Executive Officer of the patrol escort ship USS WHITEHALL, and then as Assistant to the Executive Officer of the National War College (now the National Defense University) in Washington, DC. From 1965 to 1966, as a member of the Naval Advisory Group Vietnam, he served as an advisor to the Vietnamese Navy.

Upon graduation from the Naval Destroyer School, Commander DePaul was ordered to the destroyer USS MEREDITH as Operations Officer. His next assignment was in the Electronic Warfare and Tactical Command Systems Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, DC.
Returning to sea in 1971, Commander DePaul served as Executive Officer on board the destroyer USS OZBOURN. During this period, OZBOURN deployed for combat operation in the Vietnam War. Subsequently, he was Chief Staff Officer on the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine. He was then assigned as Plans Officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Technical Training in Memphis, Tennessee. He commanded the amphibious warship USS FRESNO from June 1977 to September 1978.
Following temporary staff assignments, he was Director of Amphibious Warfare Training at the Naval Amphibious School Coronado, California until March 1981. He was then assigned to the staff of Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he served as Programs Manager until his retirement from active military service in August 1984.

From 1986 to 1990, he was employed by the City and County of Honolulu in various capacities with the Honolulu Rapid Transit Development Project. From 1990 to 2000, he was employed by the construction management firm, O’Brien-Kreitzberg Inc, and its successor, Dames & Moore, as a Project Engineer and Project Manager.

In addition to various campaign medals and unit citation ribbons, Commander DePaul has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Devices, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (First Class).
Commander DePaul holds a Master of Science Degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

After retirement he resided in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Survivors included his beloved daughters, Lorraine Vance of Allen, TX and Kimberly Dobbins of Mooresburg, TN; as well as his cherished sisters, Beverly Geiger and Francine Kind, both of Port St. Lucie, FL. He will be greatly missed by his 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, as well as many friends and other family members.

Family will hold a Memorial Mass in his honor at Holy Family Catholic Church at a later date.