Worcester titan Tony Tilton dies at 88

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  Clark University photo

  WORCESTER — Sumner B. “Tony” Tilton Jr., a longtime Worcester attorney, philanthropist and civic leader whose service extended across many of the city’s leading health care, educational, cultural and nonprofit institutions, died Friday, August 7th. He was 88.

  Tilton, a lifelong Worcester resident, was an officer and director at Fletcher Tilton PC, where he specialized in estate planning and estate and trust administration law. He also chaired the firm's Trusts and Estates Department and served on its executive, compensation and investment committees.

  Born February 25th, 1938, in Worcester, Tilton was the son of Sumner B. Tilton Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Ellsworth Tilton. He attended Middlesex School, Williams College and Boston University School of Law.

  Tilton devoted decades to civic and charitable organizations in Worcester. He was a past chairman of the board of UMass Memorial Health Care and Choose Worcester, an economic development organization, and served as a director of the YMCA of Greater Worcester and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

  He was an honorary trustee of the Worcester Art Museum and EcoTarium and served as president of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. His other philanthropic roles included serving as a trustee of the Francis A. and Jacquelyn H. Harrington Foundation, Hoche-Schofield Foundation, Ruth H. and Warren Ellsworth Foundation, Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation and Willard House and Clock Museum.

  Tilton also had a lengthy relationship with Clark University, where he was a life member and former chairman of the Board of Trustees. He helped guide the university's relationship with Worcester and co-chaired a Clark capital campaign in the early 2010s. Tilton Hall on the Clark campus was named in recognition of his support of the university.

  His community work earned him numerous honors. The Massachusetts Bar Association presented Tilton with its Community Service Award in 2002, and he was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester's Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. The Worcester Regional Research Bureau presented him with its Isaiah Thomas Award in 2008, recognizing his work to build a stronger community and expand opportunities for residents.

  Tilton received honorary degrees from Clark University, Assumption University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Becker College.

  His service extended beyond Worcester. Tilton was an elected fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Health Care Security Trust, also known as the Massachusetts Tobacco Fund. He also was a trustee of Middlesex School and Cape Cod Healthcare.

  Outside his professional and civic life, Tilton enjoyed golf, travel and spending time with family and friends. He and his wife, Martha, traveled extensively, including trips to Aruba and Africa. For nearly a decade, he made annual trips to Ireland with friends for golf, music and visits to pubs.

  The family said the home Tilton and his wife built in Osterville became a gathering place for holidays, dinners and time with family and friends. He also enjoyed ship modeling and was a longtime member of Tatnuck Country Club and the Worcester Club and a member of Oyster Harbors Club.

  Tilton is survived by his wife, Martha; daughters Pamela Reilly and her husband, John, Linda Gibson and her husband, Kevan, Deborah Thrun and her husband, David, and Kathryn Tilton and Thomas Ashworth; stepson Paul Strawn and Tracy Ginsburg; stepdaughter Emily DiRocco and her husband, Edward; sister Ann Ward and her husband, Allen; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and extended family members.

  Services and burial will be private. The family said memorial donations may be made to the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation or Boys & Girls Club of Worcester.

  View the complete obituary on the Chapman Funerals and Cremations website.