Anthony “Tony” Banash, age 82, of Lakewood, California, passed away on January 13, 2025 after a hard fought recovery from a stroke.

Tony grew up in Hastings, Michigan where he spent summers enjoying the lake house on Leach Lake and family time on the nearby farm with his extended family. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1960 and couldn’t wait to head to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan. Tony studied at U of M receiving a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration, following after his mother’s political activism, joining many clubs and hosting many dinners of incoming international students and student activists. He graduated in 1964.

In 1964, Tony became among one of the first class of recruits in the Peace Corps where he deployed to Santiago, Chile and spent a two year tour. Tony loved Chile, he always talked about those years of his life like it was yesterday, growing close with locals and finding ways to continue to be engaged in South America for the rest of his life.

After returning to the United States he moved back to Ann Arbor for a brief time before accepting a role in Washington D.C. at the United States Treasury under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Tony enjoyed being on the hill, but as he did, only stayed in the role for a couple of years before going back to Michigan.

Back in Michigan, Tony quickly planted his roots and got to work engaging in local politics. While in Grand Rapids he managed the development of Heritage Commons, an innovative housing project at the time. Heritage Commons later became a model for urban renewal projects across the country and still stands today.

After spending several years back in his home state, Tony, was onto his next adventure and moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico to help matriculating students through the college admissions process. Nearly a decade he spent in Puerto Rico, helping the community, engaging in politics and entertaining guests by shocking everyone with his passion and skills for cooking.

Tony then moved to Los Angeles County where he spent the rest of his life, first in Redondo Beach then Long Beach and finally settling in Lakewood several years ago where he lived with his dear friend Aldo and their cats and dogs, that he adored so much.

Tony will be remembered for his courage to stand up and speak the truth’s for every community he engaged with. In Los Angeles County he served on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Community Advisory Council advocating for a safer, modern public transit system for all.

Later in life he gained a passion for green energy, where he was working on implementing wind and solar energy projects across Puerto Rico. Projects and programs he took interest in were always centered around making our communities and world a haven for peace. Tony will be missed for all of the great stories and radical perspectives.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Emmanuel (Minnow) and Thelma (Koch) Banash and brother Christopher Banash.

He is survived by his sister-in-law Martha Reyff-Banash, nieces Alexandra Banash, Madison (Bailey) Kidder, Sidney Reyff, and Zoey Reyff and his dear friend Aldo Garrido, who cared for Tony for many years.

A memorial service will be held Thursday February 20, 2025 at Grace United Methodist Church in Long Beach, California at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks to kindly make donations to:

Peace Corps, Country Funds in South America: https://www.peacecorps.gov/do…

Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation: https://animalcare.lacounty.g…

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