Jose Antonio Pabon (also known as Tony Pabon) passed away on Tuesday January 21, 2014 in New York Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. Born in Puerto Rico on March 6, 1939 to Jose Antonio Pabon and Rosaura Colon, he grew up in the Bronx. In his late teens he began his career as a musician that would last over 2 decades. He played the trumpet and sang lead for the Pete Rodriguez Band. He founded Tony Pabon y La Protesta, and also became the distributor and owner of Ritmo Records Corp. He’s fondly remembered by many musicians as a man of compassion who would often give young artists their first breaks. After a long span in the music industry, he became more spiritual after having an encounter with God. One of his favorite verses that described this encounter was, “This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6. He became an ordained minister in 1992 and travelled through the US & the Caribbean to tell about the saving grace of God. Because of this he became known in the second half of his life as Pastor Tony.
Tony is survived by his wife of 53 years, Raquel Carrion Pabon. He is also survived by his four children and their spouses, Anthony Pabon and his wife Karen, Cindy Pabon and her husband Jose Nieves, Nancy Fernandez and her husband Richard and Armando Pabon. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Amanda Pabon, Alisha Gaskins, Jonathan Gaskins, Hannah Gaskins, Anthony Fernandez, Aiyana Pabon, James Gaskins, Sarah Pabon, Leana Foley, and David Pabon. Tony is also survived by his sister, Thalia Poganski and brother Oscar Aviles.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201-0001 www.billygraham.org or The Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.aspx

Visiting hours will be held at Hannemann Funeral Home, Inc. 88 South Broadway, Nyack, NY on Sunday, January 26, 2014 from 2 -4 and 7-9 PM with a prayer service to be held at 8:30 PM.