Anthony DeLuca

88 of Saunderstown, died peacefully at home with family on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Anthony was born in Naples, Italy, the son of the late Alfonso and Annunziata (Nancy) DeLuca. At the age of 9 he emigrated with his mother, brother Ciro and sister Anna to join his father in the United States and settled in Providence. He attended Classical High School, Rhode Island School of Design, and Providence College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degrees. A well-loved educator, he taught Italian and Spanish at Cranston West High School and headed the Foreign Language Departments there and at Western Hills Middle School in Cranston for over a combined 30 years. Both programs received national recognition for excellence, and he was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship to study Italian literature in Italy. He also taught at the University of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University and Roger Williams University.

He dedicated his life to public service and helping others, including counseling young men in the Progress for Providence program; service in the Rhode Island National Guard; coaching high school football and golf; serving as a Councilman and the Council President for the City of Cranston; serving as a State Representative in the Rhode Island General Assembly; acting as a Delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention; and spearheading, alongside his wife Sylvia, public support for same-sex marriage rights and legislation in Rhode Island.

His generosity in action was only matched by his kindness in spirit. He was quick with a smile and a laugh. He had a routine of “Dad jokes” to which he brought a central tenet of his pedagogy: the best teacher is repetition. With (very) little encouragement - and a glass of wine - he would break out into Nessun Dorma or O Sole Mio in public. Women swooned. We cringed mildly but loved it greatly. His granddaughters Cara and Talia shrieked with laughter when he appeared every Christmas in his makeshift Santa outfit - adorned with lights!

He was a keen student of politics, an excellent cook and connoisseur of Italian food, and a devotee of opera, the New York Yankees and Providence College basketball.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Sylvia (Mastrobuono) DeLuca, his children, Anthony, Steven (Kim) and Luisa (Brenda Harvey), his twin sister Anna Spadetti, his brother-in-law, John Mastrobuono (Carole), his granddaughters Cara DeLuca and Talia DeLuca, and his nieces and nephews Nancy Courtemanche, Peter J. Spadetti, Stefanie Mastrobuono, Claudia Mastrobuono, Liza DeFedele, Marc Mastrobuono, Jon Paul Mastrobuono and Matt Fugere.

He was the brother of the late Ciro DeLuca. He was the son-in-law of the late John and Mary Mastrobuono and the brother-in-law of the late Peter A. Spadetti and of the late Paul Mastrobuono.

His life will be celebrated at a private gathering, held by immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association, American Diabetes Association-Donate