Anthony was a bright light that briefly shined on those whom he encountered.

He held a strong desire to enter public service since his days in the 2nd grade.

As an 18 year old high school Senior in Middletown, New Jersey. He was elected class President in his freshman, sophomore, and senior years, and also served on his schools mock trial team as a defense attorney for two years. He was selected as a delegate to the American Legion Boys State Program, and was elected to the State Legislature by his fellow delegates. Anthony also participated in many leadership summits in Washington D.C. and he planned to attend Seton Hall University and study political science and eventually law.

For those of us who were blessed with the chance to discuss Tony's dreams, goals and political views, we were impressed by his strength of conviction and enamored by his gentle, humorous and calming personality.

He touched us and he left us with nothing but a sense of optimism and goodwill to all.

Tony once wrote this about himself:

"I like hanging out with my friends, going to parties, and having Sunday dinner with my family. What Italian doesn’t? My friends say I'm funny so that’s cool."

Tony did not not mention his hard work. He did not pat himself on the back but he should have. He led many of his peers and taught many twice his age much. Tony's understated self-description focussed not on himself but on those around him...his friends and his family. He knew what was important and he made them proirities.

Now, taken too soon and and stunning too many, we make Anthony Nasso's enduring legacy a proirity.

May we never lose sight of what is important and may we never take for granted those people so precious to us.

Tony, we thank you for brightening up our lives. 

This memorial was created by the many friends and admirers that Tony made by his participation in a political debate web site called u4prez.  Although this memorial page was started by them it is hoped that all who encountered Tony in any area of life will leave their special tributes to him here as well.

From Tony's friends on u4prez.com

Farewell To a Friend

As one spends any period of time on u4prez.com they encounter a wide range of emotions and experiences. From the bond of ideological kinship, the joy of general camaraderie to the adrenaline rush of rivalry and intense debate, it is all found on u4prez.com. Anyone who remains active on it for an extended period of time will develop a sense of the players, their habits and tendencies and even have the chance to discover the personalities of it‘s participants. Some will even develop real friendships. We are on computers as this happens.

We sit in our own worlds and before our eyes an entire new world unfolds and draws us in. For me u4prez has drawn me in and offered quite an eye opening experience. I have felt the full range of emotions on it. But recently the one emotion I never thought I could find here was finally felt. Heartache. The heartache and emptiness of loss.

One of our fellow candidates has left not just the debate but the world as we know it. In our virtual reality we knew him as Tony4Prez but in real life his name was Anthony Nasso. In his immediate family he leaves behind his mother, Ann Marie Nasso; grandparents, Charles and Kathleen Nasso ; two aunts and an uncle, Tara, Rosana and Charles Nasso and cousins, Joseph Fenton, and Nicolas, Christopher and Carlo Nasso.

He also leaves behind scores of personal friends from his community and his school where he served as a true leader.   Through his efforts he touched the lives of many and through his words he touched the lives of many more……..those of us who interacted with him and his words on u4prez.com.

Active participants on u4prez who connected with his comments sense the pain of his loss and are beyond sad over the loss of this young mans life. The people on this site are particularly sensitive people. We are individuals of great conscience who take the time to struggle with the issues that many do not address. Issues of our society, nation and world. We focus not on the latest pop stars top hits or the latest trendy fashions. We discuss issues of life and even death.

Now we personally confront death through the debate on u4prez.com. The loss is great but from it a sense of responsibility and purpose grows.

We must realize that our passions for the issues also involve real flesh and blood. We must understand that behind the smart remarks, user id’s and avatars are real people with real emotions. Perhaps if that is truly comprehended we can move our heartfelt agendas forward with greater expediency and purpose.

Once Tony is laid to rest on May 23, 2007 we will remove the avatars that we now use to commemorate him. We will also remember and honor him by moving ahead with the agenda that brought us all together…..the issues. We will continue with the debate and the campaigns but we will do so cognizant of the fact that  those whom we address are real. Our thoughts have real emotions behind them and your words are a reflection of the people we are.

May we all move ahead doing the same. Remember that along with the issues we address the people we are addressing are just as important.

We celebrate the life of Anthony Nasso, a young man who’s brief encounters with us leaves behind an appreciation for having known him. We move on better for the experience and keeping his spirit alive with the memory of him.

May the spirit of all that is good penetrate our hearts and allow us to move forward with goodness of intentions and purpose in his memory.

In closing we leave everyone with this poem written by Christina Georgina Rossetti :


Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.