By Sarah Lowe
Another photo of Tony
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Tony. Tony was more than a cat; he was a catalyst for joy and community.
On a sunny September morning of 2021, Tony first graced us with his presence at The Ormewood School. As the Ormewood community does, a long game of Facebook post telephone commenced to find Tony’s proper owner. After much ado, no proper owner came forward, and Tony chose The Ormewood School as his home, lying atop a play structure with tiny humans running all around him on his first official day. It felt like a real “pick me!” moment for a staff of cat-loving women.
Tony quickly climbed the ranks of neighborhood celebrity as he became an Ormewood School mainstay. He quite literally guarded Delaware Avenue with his life. When Tony wasn’t risking it all, he was charming neighbors through windows, showing up on porches for treats and tuna, helping himself to homes with open doors (and there were many!), pawing out unprovoked slaps to neighborhood dogs, and begrudgingly accepting head scratches.
At school, Tony lived his very best domesticated life. With myriad perfect cat crevices, Tony made his way from classroom to classroom, cozy corner to cozy corner. He greeted us daily when we arrived to work, and he always promptly showed up for pickup and an afternoon snack. If you were having a bad day or needed a moment of solace from preschool chaos, Tony was always available for a serotonin boost. Our hearts are broken but forever better because of him.
By definition, Tony was a community cat; however, I think we can all agree that Tony was not just a cat cared for by a community, but a cat that brought a community together. Thank you for sharing your magic with us, Tony.
