Anthony Verga, MD
April 18, 1945 ~ August 17, 2023
Born in:
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Resided in:
Northport, New York
Anthony Verga, MD passed away at 78 years old on Thursday August 17th 2023 in his Fort Salonga home surrounded by family following a three year illness. Tony was born April 18,1945 in Waynesburg, PA to Marge Mesich Verga while his father, Nino Verga was in the US Army during WWII. He grew up in Cedarhurst and East Rockaway, NY graduating E. Rockaway High School in 1963. He went on to earn a BS in Biology at Plattsburgh State College in 1967. There, while pursuing his Master’s and working as a graduate student instructor, he met the love of his life, Barbara Holly Lawrence. They married on August 21, 1971 in Hurleyville, NY.
Tony served in the US Army from 1969-1971 performing virology research at Fort Detrick, Maryland. In 1975 Tony earned his MD from Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. After completing his residency, Tony and Holly moved to Northport, NY where he began a 45 year career in psychiatry and raised their three sons. For the first eighteen years Tony cared for Veterans at the Northport VA Hospital. He went on to specialize in addiction medicine and helped countless residents of Long Island suffering with addiction and mental health. Dedication to this work is evidenced by his heroic schedule right up until the very end, most recently in collaboration with The Family Service League, New Horizons, and Community Counseling.
Tony was an accomplished golfer having learned the game while working as a caddy starting at the young age of 12. With great pleasure, Tony golfed often with his sons and their friends throughout his life. He was a music lover especially fond of Bing Crosby. Tony was roundly admired as a graceful example of father, friend and husband.
Anthony Verga is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara Holly, sons, Adam and Dale (Liz) as well as two grandchildren, Sydney and Dylan. He is predeceased by his beloved eldest son, Trevor (Kelly) and his loving sister, Barbara Noak. He also left behind three devoted golden retrievers, Perri, Dean and Roy, names that further reflect his love of music.
Donations can be made to The Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk or to The Long Island Golden Retriever Rescue.
Services
Visitation: Sunday, August 20, 2023 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Second Visitation: Sunday, August 20, 2023 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Service: Monday, August 21, 2023 10:00 am
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Interment: Friday, February 7, 2025 6:24 pm
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When I think of Tony, three words come to mind: selfless, generous, and wise. Even in the darkest of times Tony would make sure everyone else was okay. I am so grateful to have met such a man who takes care of everyone around him. I can’t even begin to think of how many lives he has changed in his lifetime. He will be so missed, always honored, and never forgotten.
We should all strive to be more like Tony, the world would be a better place. He will be missed.
Thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort as you remember someone who was so close to you.
It has been many years since I’ve seen Bo, but the memory of his stay with us at Christmas in
Florida has never left my mind. It was a wonderful time. Thank you for that Bo. Aunt Pat Verga
Your visit to our house in Miami , although brief, was enough for all of us to realize the gentleness of your soul. It seems to me, Bo, that sharing your gift of embracing the spirit in each person and canine was your life’s mission. You paid it forward, the ripples are infinite, a job well done. Thank you
I’m so sorry to hear of the death of Tony. Such a loving warm generous person , someone who was alway there for you no matter what. It didn’t matter if he saw you yesterday of 10 or more years ago’ that’s the kind of person he was. Tony was a dear friend and a loving husband and father. He will always share a place in my heart.
There is a psalm John 73:25. It has gotten me through a tragic time in my life. . It says “ WHOM DO I HAVE IN HEAVEN BUT YOU? AND EARTH HAS NOTHING I DESIRE BUT YOU”. K
I hope you find some solace in it as I do. RIP my dear friend , Dr. Verga you will live on in my heart.
I like to believe and I hope that he has been reunited with Trevor, and that they are sharing stories from the time that has passed between them. The Verga family has two amazing guardian angels looking over them now.
Rest in peace Tony.
With all my heart,
Patsy
Or maybe we’re upstate and he’s helping occupy the kids with a wagon ride, or sitting in a quiet conversation giving advice or sharing a story from his experience.
In my memories, Uncle Tony is never angry. He’s laid back, quiet but jovial. He’s kind, and welcoming but not front and center.
More than an uncle, I’m grateful to Tony for the impact he made on my dad. Tony was the big brother my dad needed when he was a young adult without his own father around. While I never met my grandfather, I can imagine that aside from what he taught my dad about being a parent, a part of what my dad has taught me about generosity and working hard (and maybe even what very little I know about golf) might be influenced somewhat from the time my dad spent with his brother-in-law Tony.
My heart breaks for you Aunt Holly. You and Tony had a great partnership, and your children are a testament to that.
Adam and Dale: I love you both so much. I’m so sorry. You both know your dad was the friggin’ best, and that makes this so much harder. You’re so lucky to have had him as a dad, and from the way he talked about his boys, he felt the same about the three of you. My heart is with you guys today and tomorrow. You are so, so loved.
Dr. Verga was a good man. He helped man people. I enjoyed our time working and talking together. My fondest memory is 9 years ago when my grandpa was sick with throat cancer. All the doctors had George on a ton of medications. He drove all the way out to southampton because George was struggling with all his medications. Dr. Verga met with him and reviewed all the medications. He was able to level George out and help. Thank you Dr. Verga.
In many ways, Tony filled the role of a father figure that was missing in my life growing up. I will forever value the advice he gave me; the lessons he taught me; the food he fed me; but most importantly, I will always be grateful for how he opened his home to me and made it clear I was welcome among his family; it was a safe place to feel loved and wanted. In my memory, he will forever be walking into the kitchen with his shirt unbuttoned–probably humming or whistling–to grab an entenmann’s donut and say hello with a pat on my shoulder. Thank you Dr. V. You will be missed.
Tony’s house was known to everyone in the neighborhood as the Doctor’s house. It was the nicest house in the neighborhood. It had a beautiful green lawn thick with no weeds of any kind. Tony would mow the lawn himself. It also was beautifully landscaped and they had customized the polls on the porch and they were sculpted which was the talk of the other neighbors.
My favorite story about Tony was years ago when another neighbor down the street had a habit of speeding through the neighborhood in his car. So one day this man came through the neighborhood driving extremely fast. Tony went directly to this man’s home and confronted him. Tony made very clear that he better not ever see him driving through the neighborhood like that again. I don’t know exactly what happened between the two of them that day but I do remember that this man drove extremely slow through the neighborhood from that day forth.
I enjoyed talking to Tony when I became an adult. He was a good person. But I know he is not gone. And definitely not forgotten. Tony is in a better place. He will always exist. Only his body had left us not his spirit. We will see Tony again.
It’s not goodbye it’s see you later.
He was also kind, friendly, accommodating and pleasant to be around. Discussions of work were woven with personable conversation that were never drawn out, did not waste time in chatting but enhanced the interaction and, I believe, improved service at the clinic.
I am saddened by the loss and feel as though I just missed out myself on what would have been a significant, fruitful professional relationship. I can only imagine how painful a loss this it to his family and other intimates. I have not met them but they are in my thoughts.
I grew very fond of him over the years at New Horizon.
Adam. But maybe it’s the real reason why we all became a family as i bow consider all those boys my brother. Its because Dr. Tony Verga was their pops, my moms good friend and my buddy. Those type of people stay and will always remain in my heart that have shaped my life in such a wonderful way. Every time I’m inside 50 yards of a green on the golf course…or sitting next to my mom talking about Dr. V – who has truly turned into a family member – ill think fondly of him in my mind and heart. Your father and husband will always be remembered as a soul flashing that beautiful smile in my head or a rememberance of something he taught me. I’m sure everyone that he touched can and will attest to that. He’s with you, and all of us he was close to for the rest of all of our lives in our mind. I thank him, you and your family for that for the rest of my life. Rest Dr. V, I’ll be sure to seenyou on the course soon.
Much love
Until we meet again,
Tom
I met cousin Bo when I was young. However my Mom, Pat Verga, through the years, always was to delighted when she heard from him. Her eyes would lite up with pride and happiness when she spoke of him. My condolences to all who knew and loved him. I’m sorry I didn’t know this kind man
I am so saddened to hear of Tony’s passing and send the entire family my condolences. He always gave me a deep feeling of kindness and warmth and know he will be missed by so many. Sending love to all.
I had the benefit of interacting with Dr. Verga over 30+ years: as a little boy, as a teenager, as a new parent, and as a middle-aged adult. But the warm feeling I got when speaking with him never did.
Though our conversations were infrequent, I occasionally had the benefit of some one-on-one time. Here is what I always got from Dr. Verga:
– Intense listening. You know that feeling when you speak with somebody and you can tell they don’t only hear you but they are trying to empathasize with and relate to everything you say? Eye contact, changing facial expression, encouraging body language. When I was a kid I found parents scary and intimidating. Not Dr. Verga. I was honored when he’d take the time to speak with me.
– Thoughtful observation. Dr. Verga could take everything I said, process it, and share his POV back that contained wisdom and humor, but it never felt like he was telling me what I should do. I considered anything Dr. Verga said to me as a treasure.
– His voice: Soft, friendly, and most of all sincere. When a very smart person takes the time to really listen and converse with you – asking questions and probing more about the experience – it can induce goosebumps. It frequently did with Dr. Verga. I could listen to him speak all day.
Finally, Dr. Verga had a fabulous sense of humor. It fit his demeanor: quiet, insightful, and clever. I enjoyed not only hearing Dr. Verga crack wise occasionally, but my whole life I loved hearing Adam tell me things his dad said that would crack me up. And the very best compliment I could get from my best friend was when we’d get together and Adam would say, “I shared that story you told me last time with my dad and Trevor… and they loved it.” Boy, nothing made me feel better than that.
I won’t miss Dr. Verga the way others will. I’ll miss that little bit of Dr. Verga that was always present in Adam. He’ll still be there the way a father is always there. But it will be different. And I’ll miss it.
Death is always hardest on those who remain behind. I’m so glad he’s free from pain and with my Dad and Trevor again.
So many hugs to Adam, Holly and Dale & Liz. ❤️❤️❤️
The best legacy one can leave is how they treated the people in their life. I became friends with Trevor in 9th grade, 33 years ago, and soon met Dr. and Mrs. Verga and the rest of the family. Many of my best memories growing up came from how the entire family always welcomed everyone into their home. It became the hang-out spot for all of our friends. After a game of basketball, the pool was always open, the ice tea was always cold, and the kitchen table was always available for late-night Taco Bell eating and deep conversations. Not only were we welcome, we would just walk right in like we lived there…and every time you saw Dr. Verga, as he walked into his kitchen and bumped into a pile of kids, he was always warm and welcoming.
I got to see Dr. Verga as a Dad at home, as a football Dad on the sidelines, and because I worked at the golf course, to see him spending time and joking with his friends. He was as equally friendly with me on the golf course as he was at home, often giving me a wink of the eye as a he told a joke or made a comment he might not make at home but he could on the golf course.
Like my other friends have noted, Dr. Verga was someone you would go to ask his opinion or get some advice or wisdom. I had a job opportunity after graduating from college, but not something in my field, and I wasn’t sure what to do. As I told him my dilemma, Dr. Verga answered in a manner any one who knows him would be able to hear—“Brian, in my life I have been poor and I have been rich…and it’s a lot more fun being rich”. I took the job.
Outside of him treating everyone I saw him meet with respect, from his boy’s friends to workers on the golf course, Dr. Verga’s other great legacy will be the boys he raised. Trevor, Adam, and Dale couldn’t be nicer, more genuine, loyal, or better friends to those close to them. My time spent with the Verga family growing up, and continuing to his day, have and will always be a defining part of my life, so thank you Dr. Verga for making that such a fun and welcoming memory and continued absolute in my life today.
My father passed away when I was 15. Years later, I realized Tony became my “big brother” when I needed guidance in my early teens.
I know exactly where I learned generosity: my big brother Tony. Tony was so easy-going and had a natural ability to create calm during tense situations. He was always wise beyond his years.
I have been blessed having Tony as my “big brother,” as a brother-in-law, and a great friend for over fifty years. We will miss him forever.