Anthony DeBonis Jr., 75, of Hobart, passed away Monday, April 13, at the University of Chicago Hospital with his wife of 46 years, Sheila McCarthy DeBonis, beside him.

Tony, as he was known to all, was born Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Gary to Anthony and Isabella DeBonis and was raised in Glen Park. He attended St. Joseph the Worker parish school and Andrean High School, graduating in the class of 1968. He went on to earn degrees from Purdue University, Phi Beta Kappa; from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University; and from the DePaul University College of Law, cum laude.

Tony began his legal career in East Chicago with the firm of Murphy, McAtee, Murphy & Costanza before partnering with Terrance L. Smith to form Smith & DeBonis in 1985. He fought tirelessly for justice on behalf of clients large and small, winning tens of millions of dollars in judgments, as well as the 1990 Trial Lawyer of the Year award from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for his long fight alongside Terry Smith for the rights of Indiana mental patients. He was a member and leader of many legal organizations, including the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Justinian Society of Lawyers.

Tony provided counsel to numerous Northwest Indiana municipal governments, agencies and commissions, capped by more than a decade of service as city attorney under Mayor Brian Snedecor in Hobart, his hometown of 45 years. He was involved in state and local Democratic politics his entire adult life, including serving for decades as a volunteer election protection lawyer.

Tony loved good food, bad jokes and dry cocktails. He was blessed to share the company of family and friends in the Region, in Italy and in Naples, Florida. He was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears and Purdue Boilermakers and was especially delighted to watch his beloved Chicago White Sox win the World Series in 2005.

Tony celebrated his Italian heritage and was a lifelong student of Roman history and lover of classical music. He was a 50-year patron of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a past member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra board of directors. Alongside Sheila, he was deeply involved in civic life in Hobart, including in leadership positions at St. Bridget Catholic Church, the Kiwanis Club and many other organizations.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Michael and Dominic DeBonis, as well as his aunt and uncle, Iola and John Kish. He is survived by his wife, Sheila; his sons, Michael (Dena) DeBonis of Washington, D.C., and Daniel (Kelly) DeBonis of Atlanta, Georgia; and grandchildren Rosemary, Cecilia and George. He is also survived by his cousin, John (Kathryn) Kish of Indianapolis; sister-in-law Margaret McCarthy of Miller Beach; and brother-in-law Kevin McCarthy of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Friends are warmly invited to visit with Tony’s family from 3 to 7 p.m. with a 5 p.m. Kiwanis service on Friday, April 24, at Rees Funeral Home, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart. A prayer vigil will be held there at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, with the Rev. Dominic V. Bertino officiating. A luncheon celebrating Tony’s life will follow at noon at Gamba Ristorante, 455 East 84th Drive, Merrillville.