Comments on: A Living Memorial to the Father of IPTV – Tony Atwater

By: Lari O'Neil-McNew (formerly O'Neil-Atwater)

Lari O'Neil-McNew (formerly O'Neil-Atwater) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:21:29 +0000

How wonderful that Elizabeth has been able to see and read all the comments left here by her Dad’s friends and associates. Thank you all very much. Elizabeth is in San Diego now, working with local artists, establishing residency for college, and staying amazingly grounded. Tony would be really proud of her.

Please feel free to email me if you are interested in getting in touch with her.

lariomc©yahoo•com

By: Samantha Eastwick

Samantha Eastwick — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:07:42 +0000

I met Tony back in 1997 when he hired me to be the receptionist for SourceNet. I grew with that company up until it sold to ATG. I also worked with him at Silver State Communications. I owe a lot to Tony for believing in me and helping starting my career in office management. Because of his influence I will be a business owner very soon. I was shocked to hear of his passing and will miss him very much.

By: Kathleen Myers

Kathleen Myers — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:15:41 +0000

I truly miss my friend Tony and think about him every day. His passing seems surreal and I could wake-up at any time and he might be here asking me “whets-up LaGata?” He used to tease me about being an original gangster. Being I grew-up in Miami, Fl. Tony was an adventurer at hart and we had some plans together to change the world as we know it. Both of our worlds changed… My son Simon and my husband Lenny miss his playful and caring presence, always wanting to go on a bike ride with Lenny. Or give my teenage son something to think about. His future and how does he get there? With all the love he shared I wonder about Elizabeth and how she is doing? As well as Maria with the new baby? I do not know how to call anyone and would love to hear from anyone who loved Tony as much as I/we do. He is truly missed and will be a part of me till I pass. Remember; “life is what we make it…”

By: Kendra Munroe

Kendra Munroe — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:52:25 +0000

I met Tony about 20 years ago….what a man!!! He was my son’s “Tony Man.” Tony was a fun, thoughtful man who one time loaded up his big Siverado pickup truck with snow in Tahoe, and drove it to Sacramento so that my children could play in the snow!! …..As I said, “What a man!” We will miss Tony deeply. My children are grown now and really didn’t remember Tony all that well, but they remembered “Tony man”… the man with the snow!! Tony, you will always be remembered for your kind and thoughtful ways!1 We love you!! Kendra, Josh, Amber “Nick man” and Tyler!!!

By: Dana Myers

Dana Myers — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:20:38 +0000

I can’t pin down the exact date, but it was a warm summer afternoon in 1985, out at the Rock Store on Mulholland Highway when I met Tony. Naturally, we were talking motorcycles, but the topic wandered and we quickly became friends. Tony’s energy and enthusiasm was infectious; it was great to see Tony enjoy a great deal of success in technology recruiting, but that wasn’t enough for him. One day, probably in 1994, Tony called me up and asked about “this web thing”. We talked for about an hour about what it would take to establish a web server. A few weeks later, he called back and pointed me at his URL – and he took off from there like a jet. After taking some time out, Tony was so jazzed this year about being back in the game he’d brought so much to – I’m stunned to hear the news of his passing. Of course, he’d lived quite a life by any account – anyone else remember his 30th birthday bash? Or the GSX-R1100 he’d already sold but took for one more spin around Willow and tossed in turn 2 – only to walk away and tell the story with a smile the next day? Tony was an amazing person, a good friend and father. Tony – we’ve lost a lot when you left, man.

By: Keisha M. Munroe

Keisha M. Munroe — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:05:43 +0000

Everyone..T-Bone aka Tony would really dig this tribute to him. He was an inspiration to us all. I have known him for over 20+ years and i know this would touch his heart….he thought sometimes that know one cared….BUT this shows so much.

Much love to All that loved Tony.

Keishamx

By: Derek Vogel

Derek Vogel — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:17:08 +0000

We lost one of the true characters in telco. Tony will be missed for sure.

I met Tony when I was with Aztech, a sister company to SourceNet. When our office flooded, he opened his doors to us, and we occupied the same office space without walls for quite a while. I got to see this crazy idea he and Eddie and Ryan were cooking up – TV over phone lines. I later joined them and moved to Seattle when that crazy idea grew wings. Tony was a friend and confidant during those difficult early days at Myrio. I recently began to work with him on a new project for his new company. I hope to complete that project in his honor.

My deepest sympathies to Tony’s family.

-Derek

By: Nick Benson

Nick Benson — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:31:36 +0000

I got the call from my mother about Tony’s passing, she saw it on the news in Reno. I am devastated, after only a couple weeks prior speaking to him about coming to visit…. Tony was one of the best bosses and friends that I have ever known.

You ARE missed Tony.

By: Ray Young

Ray Young — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:05:16 +0000

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Tony at such a young age. We worked together at Myrio and I was really impressed and encouraged by his entrepenaurial vision. We spent a lot of time together strategizing on ways to get the idea of IP Video into the heads of the target Telephone Companies. Now of course everyone is doing it and they think it’s a fantastic idea, let’s not forget Tony who made this dream a reality.

All the best Tony – keep a seat open for me up there.

Ray Young (friend and fellow conspirator)

By: Peter Marschall

Peter Marschall — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 19:03:11 +0000

I was just made aware that the memorial fund information has changed. It is designed to cover costs associated with Tony’s funeral

The correct information is:

Checks can be made to either Elizabeth Q. Atwater, Tony Atwater Memorial Fund or Antonio Atwater Memorial Fund, and sent to:

Elizabeth Q. Atwater f.b.o. Antonio Atwater Memorial Fund c/o Great Western Bank,
6304 North 99th Street,
Omaha NE 68134.