Longtime pharmacist a ‘good, good man’

Anthony Lindy D’Altorio, who dispensed medicine, comfort and smiles for more than 20 years at Bushard’s Pharmacy, died Monday at his home, surrounded by family and friends.

D’Altorio, known to everyone as Tony, was 65.

“Tony was part of everyone’s lives, especially his customers,” said former School Board member Harry Bithell, a fellow Rotarian for years.

“He was so dedicated he had to quit Rotary because he couldn’t make the [mandatory] noon meetings,” he said.

“He was just a good, good man.”

Tony was born in Akron, Ohio, the son of Italian emigrants.

The family moved to California when he was 5, drawn by word of the weather here — more like the weather they were used to in Italy.

He and his younger brother grew up in Montebello.

Tony thrived at Cantwell Catholic High School and later at USC where he attended the university’s pharmacy school.

He remained a Trojan fan for the rest of his life.

He also was a fan of golf and travel.

Tony married Carol Mihalovich on Oct. 11, 1969.

They moved with their young children to Laguna Niguel in 1976, after which he became a partner at Bushard’s.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight weeks to the day of his death, according to a family member.

Donations in his name may be made to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

For more information visit www.pancreatic.org or call (310) 472-6310.

He is survived by his wife, son David, daughter Nicole von Gierke, her husband, Jens, and granddaughters Natalia and Sophia.

Friends are invited to attend the funeral service, set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point.

For more information, call (949) 496-1307.