Anthony D. M. Knights 1935 - 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Anthony (Tony) Knights, 87, on July 24th, 2022. He was born in Carshalton, Surrey, England to Geoffrey A. Knights and Ethel M. (Morgan) Knights. Tony is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Dawn (Hilton) Knights; his daughters, Elaine Halgas and her husband Michael of Wesley Chapel, FL, Deborah Graziano and her husband Felix of Springfield, MA, Amanda Gonye and her husband Gregory of Wilmington, DE, and Helen Knights of Oakland CA; eleven grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He earned Higher National Certificates in Electrical Engineering from Bournemouth College of Technology and in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Academy of Engineering, London, followed by a Diploma of Technology from Imperial College of Sciences and Technology in London. He emigrated from England in 1968, settling in Longmeadow, and worked for United Aircraft/Technologies in various engineering and executive roles. Tony loved nature and animals, enjoying many related hobbies. His favorites included photography, painting/drawing, fishing, collecting seashells and rocks, and especially gardening. He was passionate about rhododendrons and azaleas and was an active member of the Massachusetts and Connecticut Chapters of the American Rhododendron Society, serving in leadership roles. He twice received their highest award, the Bronze Medal, honoring his contributions to rhododendron hybridizing. Services will be private and have been entrusted to Forastiere Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. His family would like to acknowledge Baystate Medical Center, where he received kind and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org or the American Rhododendron Society, www.rhododendron.org