BAYSIDE — Tony Field, 60, of Bayside, Maine, died peacefully at sunset on October 12, 2024, surrounded by the love of his sister and nieces. He was born on January 1, 1964, in Portsmouth, Virginia, as Franklin Augustus Wilson Field IV, but known by all as "Tony".

He was the firstborn child of Franklin and Nancy Field, and the older brother of Karen Field. Tony's father was a long-serving Marine Corps officer, which required the family to move frequently. Most of Tony’s childhood was spent in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, but they also lived for four years in Rota, Spain, and briefly in San Diego, California.

After graduating from White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in 1982, Tony joined the U.S. Navy in 1983 and spent eight years working on and in nuclear submarines, until he was honorably discharged in 1991. After leaving the Navy, Tony began a career working in Quality Assurance and IT Project Management for various companies. Tony loved his career and spoke fondly of his years working in Boston and Raleigh.

As a young adult, Tony loved to travel. He went dog sledding in Norway, scuba diving in Panama, and spent a month camping in the Mongolian wilderness. Tony was also a proud uncle of his two nieces, Jessica and Michelle. He taught them how to play Nintendo, took them to the renaissance fair, and would watch Disney movies on repeat with them. When they became adults, he was always in their corner for support, advice, or a big hug.

Tony had many friends living all over the country and the world, many of whom he kept in close touch with until his passing. His friends described him as being a “true and faithful friend.”

In 2013, dealing with persistent health issues, Tony moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Bayside, Maine, allowing him to live close to his parents and sister once again. In these years, he enjoyed playing golf at the Northport Golf Club with his father, whom he became very close with in the years before Frank’s passing in 2022. In the last few years of his life, Tony was often found wrangling his sister’s pet goat, or swimming at the local YMCA in his free time.

Tony loved animals, and his family joked he was a "cat whisperer", as cats who feared all other humans trusted him. He was a long-time cat rescue volunteer, foster, and the adopter of cats that were medically complex or highly anxious. April, Shakespeare, Gabriel, Lord Underfoot, Molly, and many other cats were lucky to have Tony as their owner.

Tony was also a self-declared "nerd", who loved to talk and read about physics, space, computers, and video games, and was even writing his own fantasy novel. Above all else, Tony will be remembered by his loved ones as a remarkably kind-hearted, loving, and resilient person.

Tony is predeceased by his parents, Frank and Nancy; his aunt and uncle, Linda and Dwight Doubleday; his paternal grandparents, Angela and Franklin A.W. Field Jr; his maternal grandparents, Arnold and Marjorie Ebert; and his cousin Donna.

He is also predeceased by his fiancée, Gwen, whom he lost 38 years ago.

He is survived by his younger sister, Karen; his nieces, Jessica and Michelle LeBlanc; his friend and father's widow, Dotty Field; his cousins Gary, Lynn, Chip, Kelly, Julie, Tracey, and Jonathan Doubleday; lifelong friend Anna and many other beloved friends; and many other cherished family members.

In keeping with Tony's wishes, no funeral services or viewing will be held. Tony will be buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine, alongside his mother and father.

Tony's family will hold a celebration of life in the spring of 2025 and will notify loved ones and friends when the celebration is scheduled.In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter in Tony's name.