It is with a tremendously heavy heart that Filamentos (arts and letters in the Azorean Diaspora) notifies our readers that the writer and amazing friend of PBBI-Fresno State, Anthony Barcellos, author of the book Land of Milk and Money, passed on Sacramento on the night of June 27th. We will feature more information in future stories and dedicate a complete edition of our digital literary publication to Anthony. Our condolences to the entire family and Anthony’s many friends throughout our community. We at PBBI will miss him dearly. He will be forever with us through his writings and his commitment to our diaspora.

This social media post from his friend Eric Butow, is indicative of how many lives Anthony touched.

I am mourning the loss of a good friend tonight. Anthony Barcellos died peacefully at 9:45 p.m. at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Sacramento.

Tony suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on June 7 and wasn’t found for several hours. The Davis Police Department found Tony at his home that afternoon due to the diligence of a friend who noticed Tony didn’t show up for a weekly lunch and didn’t give any advance notice as he usually did.

Tony had trouble breathing, swallowing, and talking after the stroke, but was still able to communicate and even made jokes. However, late this afternoon Tony realized his time had come. I’m glad I got news of this from Tony’s brother Tom and that I could say goodbye via text through Tom.

I’m at once devastated and grateful. Tony is one of the two people who shaped my adult life, and I’m a much better person because of him. But I’m not surprised because Tony battled high blood pressure for years and was getting checked regularly for brain bleeding earlier this year.

I will do my best to honor Tony for as long as I am able. I’ll start by thinking of all the good times with Tony and I’ll always keep his wise counsel close at hand.

| | Anthony Barcellos: April 4, 1951 – June 27, 2024 | |