Anthony P. Brophy

Anthony "Tony" Patrick Brophy (45), born in Pottsville, PA on November 3, 1977 passed away peacefully surround by his loving family on July 20, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Tony is survived by his loving wife Sarah Brophy, his daughter Paige Josephine Brophy (8), stepdaughter Madeline Marie Costa (7), son Joseph Patrick Brophy (5), adoring parents Anthony J. and Joanne (Anthony) Brophy, Maternal Grandmother June Anthony, loving sister Ashley (Brophy) Borzak and husband Brent Borzak, loving in-laws Hugh and Erlinda Brennan, brother and sister in-law Andrew Brennan and Nora Reilly and nephew Richard Brennan (1), sister in law Devon Santoro and nieces Mercy (9) and Dahlia (3) Brennan and many adoring aunts, uncles and cousins.

Tony was proceeded in death by his maternal grandfather Joseph Anthony "Pop", paternal grandparents Frank and Isabele Brophy and his wife's twin brother, Joseph Brennan.

Originally from Frackville, Pa Tony grew up surrounded by community. Tony's maternal Grandfather owned the local grocery store with Tony's uncles where Tony would spend his afternoons hanging with his beloved "Pop". Tony's youth was spent playing Tee-Ball and Little League Baseball where he was coached by his father, Tony Sr. When his little sister Ashley was born, Tony took to the big brother role proudly. Tony and Ashley's childhood in Frackville was one spent surrounded by family. Ashely went on to marry Brent Borzak, with whom Tony had been friends with since childhood. Tony and Brent grew up through adolescence and into adulthood as brothers, their mutual passion for fitness and love of football bonding them in parallel as they became brothers-in-law.

Tony went on to attend Cardinal Brennan Catholic High School, where he was a graduate of the class of 1996. Tony excelled in Football as a Scholar Athlete and was well loved by his classmates and his teachers. Tony went on to attend Kutztown University and ultimately graduated from Penn State University, Berks Campus with an Associate's Degree in Information Science and Technology in 2003. Tony's gregarious personality and love for life was infectious. During his time at both Kutztown and Penn State, he made friends wherever he went. His college days were filled with laughter and the love of friends near and far.

After graduating, he began his career at Shen-heights TV, a company founded by his paternal Grandfather and ultimately run by his father and his uncles. Tony went on from there to work for Comcast, where he would spend the next 20 years. Tony's good nature, kindness, compassion, honesty and sense of leadership and loyalty made him a fixture in the Comcast community. Starting his career in the Philadelphia area and eventually making his way to Somerset County, NJ Tony's positivity, and upbeat sense of life, resulted in an expansive influence on the organization and all of the technicians, supervisors, managers, dispatchers and customers with whom he worked.

Tony moved to Hillsborough, NJ in 2013. His daughter, Paige was born on October 15, 2014. His son, Joseph was born on October 2, 2017. Tony adored his children and aspired to raise them surrounded by the same love of family and community within which he had been raised. Paige and Joseph have their father's eyes, his kindness, his quiet calm good nature and certainly his silliness and sense of humor. His children loved their father's "big muscles" and thought Daddy was the ultimate superhero.

When Tony met his wife, Sarah, from their first date on they were inseparable. This second chance at love in life was the most profound moment in both their lives. They say when you know – you know. Tony and Sarah quickly built a life together, founded on their mutual love and respect for one another and their commitment to loving and nurturing their families and children. Tony took on the role of stepfather to Sarah's daughter Madeline, with grace, patience, and love. Sarah and Tony were engaged on January 16th, 2022 and wed on August 13, 2022.

While their lives were filled with the promise of a beautiful long life together, Tony fell ill in November of 2021. Tony suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on Thanksgiving Day while traveling to see his family for the holiday. He underwent an emergency craniotomy and spent the next 40 days in the neurological critical care unit at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. Tony spent the next20 months battling significant health issues, after his first stroke he suffered a heart attack, had several heart surgeries, suffered a pulmonary embolism and had bi-lateral pneumonia. Through all the darkest times of his life, Tony remained ever positive, upbeat, loving and never, ever lost his sense of humor. During his numerous hospital stays, he became known by all the doctors and nurses for his good nature and jovial personality. Tony recovered each time and returned home even further committed to his role of father and husband.

Tony and Sarah spent all oftheir time with their children, their lives were built around making memories with Paige, Madeline and Joseph and committed to making each moment with them meaningful. When Sarah's twin brother passed away in December of 2021, Tony without hesitation accepted the addition of Mercy (9) and Dahlia (3) Brennan to the family. The five children became the best of friends, holding the families together in the wake of the family's tragedy.

Tony's legacy will be one of kindness, grace, compassion, love and family. He was raised by Tony and Joanne to know that the most important thing you can have in life is the love and support of your family. The foundation and measure of the success of a person's life at the end of their days is the kindness and love they put out into the world. Tony was the epitome of all that is good and kind in this world. He was beloved by his in-laws, Hugh and Erlinda. He held them close in his love after the loss of their son, and quickly became not only a pillar in the Brophy family but in the Brennan family as well. Tony was adored by his wife's friends and family and across the community within which they were raising their children. There will never be another Anthony Patrick Brophy and the impact he had on this world – to those closest to him and to those whose lives he touched but for a moment, will be ever-lasting.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to be made in Tony's memory to the American Heart Association. American Heart Association | To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives

Service Information:

Hillsborough, NJ:

Wednesday 7/26
4-8 pm viewing at Hillsborough Funeral Home
796 US-206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Thursday 7/27
10 am Mass at Mary Mother of God Church
157 S Triangle Rd, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Repass to follow Mass, 12:30 pm location tbd

Frackville, PA:

Friday 7/28
4-8 pm viewing at St Joseph the Worker (St. Ann's)
49 N Line St
Frackville, PA 17931

Saturday 7/29
10 am Mass, St Joseph the Worker (St. Ann's)
49 N Line St
Frackville, PA 17931
Burial to immediately follow Mass

Sign the guestbook, leave personal condolences and for further information please visit www.thomasmsullivanfuneralhome.com

Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Frackville is in charge of the arrangements.