A.J. (Tony) Coco has served the Tustin Community for many years
in numerous capacities. We are proud to name him as a TAHS VIP
Board Member
2010 Tony Coco
TAHS President
1989 Tony Coco, David Nisson & Sam Francis
1988 Tony Coco
1982 Tony Coco
1981 Tony Coco
1980 Tony Coco
Bio:
- Born in Rochester, New York.
- Spent 4th grade year in Denbigh, Virginia
- 3 ½ years of high school at Aquinas Institute, Rochester
- Graduated high school at Salpointe, Tucson, Arizona
- Odd jobs as curio store clerk, TV antenna installer, news reader for Tucson radio station.
- Earned First Class Radiotelephone ticket, FCC
- Entered University of Arizona, interrupted program to spend 2 ½ years aboard USS Iowa as Electronic Technician. Ports: Europe, Africa, Asia, South & Central America
- Upon discharge, bought first (and last) motorcycle, took off same day from Norfolk to Tucson, traded for Ford in Dallas for remainder of trip across desert.
- Graduated University of Arizona, BS in Electrical Engineering [TAU BETA PI]
- Married, 2 kids born in Newport Beach, California
- Moved to Tustin, California in 1962
- Worked in aerospace as EE and program control specialist.
- Graduated Cal State Fullerton, MBA [BETA GAMMA SIGMA]
- Life member of MENSA
- Elected Tustin City Councilman, then Mayor (eight years). Conceived idea for putting message on reverse of all “Welcome to Tustin Signs” : “Work where you must, but live in Tustin”. At suggestion of Frank Greinke, then Chamber President, added “…live and shop…”
- Commissioned Intelligence Officer, Naval Reserve [Fleet Intelligence Center, Hawaii]
- Earned California Real Estate license, then Broker’s license.
- Elected president of Realty Investment Association of California (RIAOC), interstate investment brokerage association. Named Member for Life after two separate terms.
- Married again, 2 stepkids for a total of 4
- Began lifelong association with A.J. Galambos’ Free Enterprise Institute, 1976
- Elected Tustin Area Man of the Year; Tustin Jaycees Man of the Year; Order Sons of Italy Man of the Year (all different years).
- Elected President of the Tustin Area Historical Society.
- Named Chairman of Tustin Chamber Legislative Committee
- Officer and member of Tustin Host Lions Club (current)
- Graduated Western State University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree
- Passed US Patent Office bar and California State bar exams (first time)
- Lost life savings in First Pension fraud [3,000 investors lost 99 million dollars]
- Awarded outstanding alumnus honors (Louis Slonaker Award), University of Arizona
- Retired as Lieutenant Commander from Navy, full benefits
- Operated small patent, trademark, copyright practice; now retired
- Member, Orange County Bar Association Administration of Justice Committee
- Chairman of Orange County Patent Law Association Legislative Committee
- Have owned current residence in North Tustin since 1978
- Awarded Gold Star member of Orange County Sheriff’s Department
- Appointed to sheriff’s Professional Services Reserve
- Currently have 7 grandchildren
- Currently volunteer as reader/director for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RBD)
- Currently taking bagpipe and Hebrew lessons, traveling and kayaking, not simultaneously.
- Practice Tai Chi Quan and do weekly NY Times Crossword just to keep mind and body active.
