Anthony J. Grosso, ex-official in Delco

Anthony J. Grosso, 88, of Springfield, Delaware County, a retired Springfield Township commissioner and county waste-management engineer, died Tuesday of colon cancer at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media.

Mr. Grosso was director of the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority from 1987 until his retirement in 2005 at age 85. He was involved in establishing a recycling program that received a Governor's Award and was instrumental in securing a $90,000 state grant for curbside recycling for Springfield Township in 1988. Mr. Grosso served on the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners from 1984 until last year.

He served on the Delaware County Housing Authority for 30 years, and had been on the Springfield Township Zoning Hearing Board and the Cable TV Advisory Board.

Mr. Grosso was a Republican committeeman for more than 30 years.

"His precinct consistently delivered the largest Republican plurality," said Charles Sexton, former Republican chairman for Springfield Township. "Tony was a tireless worker; he would work 16 hours a day. He had a tremendous sense of humor and a warm heart. He loved animals, and would pick up strays and find them good homes."

Before moving to Springfield in 1970, Mr. Grosso had been a resident of Darby Township. For 15 years was Darby Township treasurer, and he served on the Darby Township Board of Commissioners.

After graduating from West Philadelphia High School, Mr. Grosso worked for the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone for 17 years, eventually becoming an assistant project engineer. He then joined Pennwalt Corp. in Northeast Philadelphia. When he retired from Pennwalt in the mid-1980s after 30 years, he was head of quality control.

While working, he attended Drexel University and Pennsylvania State University's Middletown Township campus, and earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Penn State.

For 50 years, Mr. Grosso participated in spiritual renewal weekends at the Malvern Retreat House. He was a member of the Crozer-Keystone Healthplex Sports Club in Springfield. As township commissioner, he had supported the construction of the club and other Crozer-Keystone Health System projects.

He exercised at the sports club, his son Mark said, and enjoyed Sunday afternoon drives, vacations at the Shore, and the company of his retriever, Bailey.

In addition to his son, Mr. Grosso is survived by a son, Jamie, and a daughter, Beth Ann. His wife of 56 years, Anna Dougherty Grosso, died in 2006.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11:30 a.m. today at St. Kevin Church, 200 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield, where friends may call after 9:30.