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Southampton native Anton Xavier Sylvester died on April 21 of a hereditary heart defect at his home in Seattle, Washington. Fondly known as “Tony,” he was 29.
He was the second child born to Cheryl L. Smith and Robert L. Sylvester on July 2, 1980, in Southampton. As a child, he attended the Galilee Church of God in Christ in Riverhead, alongside his mother and grandmother, Elaine Sylvester.
He attended Southampton Public Schools, graduating in 1999 from Southampton High School. An avid athlete, while in high school he played basketball, football, and ran track. He achieved the titles of All-County and All-League in both football and track.
Mr. Sylvester was also very active in student activities. He served on student council and was a member of Peer Assisted Leadership and the Varsity Club. In his senior year he was elected class president and, conversely, was voted class clown, as he was known to joke around.
He continued his education and interest in sports at the University at Albany where he played football as a wide receiver and graduated with a bachelor degree in psychology in 2003. He then moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked as a lab technician for a cancer research center.
He is survived by his father and stepmother, Robert L. and Sharon Sylvester of Shinnecock Reservation; grandmothers, Elaine M. Sylvester of Southampton and Precious J. Sauls of East Hampton; two brothers, Robert A. Sylvester of Queens and Nykwan George of Bellport; two sisters, Dyáshwa A. Sylvester of Shinnecock Reservation and Najiyyah George of Bellport; a stepsister, Dyáni A. Brown of Shinnecock Reservation; an uncle, James C. Sylvester and his wife Karen of Maryland; two aunts, Yolanda W. Smith (Phillip “Brad” Johnson) of Southampton and Joanne Mansoor of New Jersey; a great-uncle, Joseph Proctor of Riverhead; two great-aunts, Bernice Proctor and Iris J. Bell and her husband George, all of New Jersey; and many cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his mother, Cheryl L. Smith; a grandfather, Robert C. Sylvester; and a great-uncle, Frederick Proctor.
The family received visitors on April 30 at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. A funeral service was held on May 1 at the Galilee Church of God in Christ in Riverhead. Interment was at Southampton Cemetery.
on May 5, 2010