RIP Tony Lusk

Tony, you'll always have a special place in my heart: for the type of climber you were and the way you inspired me to do better. It's going to be a much lonelier place without you here, but I know you will be with us in spirit. Your friend, forever. Dennis

Ryan Suedkamp wrote:Tony was an awesome guy. He put up some great routes. I think every time I saw him he was smiling. I will never forget his laugh. It was contagious. RIP Tony.

We always had an incredible time climbing with "the Tonies". They're a unique pair. Tony was one of the most generous, kind people I've met. We may never know how many routes he actually put up because after putting in all the time and energy of putting up a climb, out of the blue he'll ask if someone else wants the first ascent. He loved living life as he could live it. His body told him to take some time off from climbing, so he hiked or fished. He didn't worry about what he couldn't do just loved what he could do. We'll miss you Tony.

A friend took this picture of Tony at one of his new climbing areas. He was either smiling or laughing. He wasn't even climbing this day. He was just enjoying hanging out and watching everyone climb his new area.

I only had the pleasure of meeting Tony on two occasions, but have climbed many of his routes and enjoyed the majority of them. Tony was a very friendly guy, and I regret I did not have the opportunity to know him better. May his memory live on in everyone he touched.

I just found out from Catalina earlier today.

Tony and I spent hours talking when we worked Summit Hut security. He climbed, I climbed but we never climbed together. We were instant friends, and seeing him after a long time was a hard hand shake and talk, laughs, and he would not hesitate to put me in my place!

What else can I say? May his spirit live on! through all of us!

Tony, you will be missed man!

What a sad day for the climbing community.
What a prolific FAer.
Condolences to family and friends.

His legacy is firmly established and will live on.

I'm genuinely saddened to hear the news about Tony. He was a great guy and his passing is a great loss to the Tucson climbing community and to all his friends. My most sincere condolences to his family. We'll sure miss you Tony...
John

I too only had the pleasure of meeting Tony a few times, but each time he struck me as someone who really knew how to wring the pleasure out of life. And, in doing so, he also created routes that continue to give to others. I truly admire that. Thanks Tony.

The Service for Tony Lusk will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Christ Community Church on 7801 E. Kenyon Dr., AZ 85710 with a reception following the service.

i started climbing with tony over 20 years ago, he pushed me to lead some of my most challenging leads, and he would drag me up the ones that i could not. i did some of my early fa's with tony. i will never forget the great times we shared.

occasionally, climbers that appreciate the amount of work and money that go into new sport routes will offer to donate some money. i don't think that tony ever accepted, like most of us, tony was just happy to see someone have fun on his routes. tony spent much time and money contributing to this climbing community. he quite often added additional protection to his routes for other climbers safety although he did not need it for himself. some may not agree with every placement, but i can say with certainty that; anyone who sport climbs on mtn lemmon has had fun on a tony lusk route. if you are one;

now would be a good time to donate,

his family could use some of that money he spent on bolts and chains so that all of us could have fun and go home to our families after a safe day climbing.

without hard working first ascentionists like tony, the rest of us would have little to climb

thank you

Tony was too young to die. He had family that loved and needed him. And a community of people who also loved and needed him. It is always difficult for me to see someone young die. My mother and many others i have known have died young. It leaves the world with a whole in it to somehow fill, if not only with the grace to live on and take what we can from their spirit and cherish it with all of our hearts. My condolences to Pam and his 2 boys he adored and his closest friends who will suffer from his passing the most. I am ever so grateful for the gift to see him earlier that week on Mt. Lemmon and share with joy knowing one another and talk about needing to have a party to mark nearly 25 years of time passed.

Tonys official memorial services are being held at Christ Community Church
7801 East Kenyon
1pm on Saturday the 16th.
Reception to follow with drinks and snacks. This church has treated Tonys family very well. It is a great facility. Look forward to seeing you there.

That is at Kenyon and Pantano about half way in between Broaday and 22nd.

There will also be a celebration of Tony's life with family and friends at the Cozzetti home after the service. The address is 3849 east Calle de soto, on the NW corner of Alvernon and Calle de soto, halfway between Broadway and Fifth. All are welcome

Somebody I knew died recently, so I thought I would catch up with my climbing friends in Tucson. Although two years late, I am extremely saddened to find out tonight from Brian Benedon that Tony passed. Everything everybody said about Tony was true. He was not stuck on himself or his FA's, he was stuck on having fun. I am deeply saddened, and I wish I could have seen him again. He was one always nice guy.

Somebody I knew died recently, so I thought I would catch up with my climbing friends in Tucson. Although two years late, I am extremely saddened to find out tonight from Brian Benedon that Tony passed. Everything everybody said about Tony was true. He was not stuck on himself or his FA's, he was stuck on having fun. I am deeply saddened, and I wish I could have seen him again. He was one always nice guy.

My mom Nita, Tony's sister...Wanted me to share this to all of you. She has read all of your comments over the last 4 years, they have given her more peace than she could ever ask for. ~Maggie

Anthony Leo Lusk Jr
June 25th 1958 to October 3rd 2010
I have been beside myself with grief knowing this day was coming... Its been 4 long years since God called you to his mountains... But God gave me a present this year that I never could have imagined... All my family and family a friend knows it this year I've been very very sick... And while I was so sick and so weak God allowed Anthony to come and get me time and time again and take me to heaven with him... Where we would climb the mountains of God... I know that it was in heaven because there's no place so beautiful on this earth... The colors were so vibrant and there's no plants that color on the face of this earth... We would climb so high...no ropes, no harnesses. We would climb through waterfalls, when we would splash through the water falls the droplets of water were neon colors like neon turquoise and lime... And yet we were never wet... And when we would fall he would take my hand and he would giggle that child like laugh that he had and we would laugh and giggle all the way down... And we would never hit the ground we would just stop... And start climbing all over again and never grow tired or weary... Because we know that" they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint..." I now know that he is in heaven for there's no place on earth that beautiful... and I thank God for allowing me to see that...I know somehow God allowed him to show dad that too... Everything I went through with all of my surgeries and all of my pain and all of my suffering I would do it all over again to climb the mountains of God with my brother Anthony one more time...but I would always wake up crying...it was like losing him all over again...I just couldn't take it...but oh to listen to him laugh...
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