Anthony P. Stafford

Anthony (Tony) Peter Stafford, 67, of Cornelius, NC, died on November 14, 2025, after a heroic battle with brain cancer and stroke. He was born in Astoria, NY on June 12, 1958, to the late Anthony Peter and Lillian (Besozzi) Stafford.

He grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he attended PS160 and formed many life-long friendships there. He quit school at 14 to learn the meat market trade and become a butcher. He owned Tony’s Meat Market in Brooklyn, NY then Tony’s Butcher Shoppe in Richmond Hill, NY. On May 6, 1993, he married the late Maria Randise at their home in Brooklyn, NY. Later that year they moved to Charlotte, NC. On August 14, 1999, Tony and Maria opened Ferrucci’s Old Tyme Italian Market in Cornelius, NC which they operated for 15 years. He proudly achieved his GED in 2011. In 2015, he created the southern division of Love Valley Wholesale Spice Company, where he was famous for his great personality and his spice-patterned pants, which is still in operation today. On April 9, 2016, he married Ellen Wass Beckerman in Cornelius, NC.

Tony is survived by his wife, Ellen Hope (Wass) Stafford, his brother Thomas and his wife Regina Stafford, his brother Edward and his wife Janet Stafford, his sister Patricia Stafford (predeceased), his sister LiliAnn Stafford, his brother Michael and his wife Jodi Stafford, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on January 10, 2026, at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078.

His wife Ellen would like to thank Bluebird Homecare, Interim Healthcare, and VIA Hospice and Palliative Care of Lake Norman for their kind, compassionate, and competent caring.

Tony was a huge supporter of restaurants and small businesses. In lieu of flowers, please go to your favorite local restaurant, buy a meal, and give a toast in Tony’s memory.