Memorial Mass for Tony Bologna

He received his undergraduate and Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University and promptly moved to Memphis, TN in 1964 on the encouragement of one of his Tulane Professor. With only $100, no job in sight, and two toddlers and a baby on the way, Tony and Dee began their journey of becoming Memphians. He quickly got job offers from four firms. His very first project was the MLG&W Building downtown. He quickly realized that renovating historical and vacant buildings was his true calling. His mark is readily seen today all over Memphis. As an Architect for Bologna and Associates, he renovated the Cotton Exchange Building, The Shrine Building, 88 Union Center, United American Bank Building, historic Beale Street, Paperworks Apartments, St. Peter Catholic Church, Brinkley Plaza, the Pachyderm House at the zoo, Parking Can Be Fun, The Gallery Condominiums, 413 South Main Street, Union Commons Co-operative, Handy Park, Elvis Presley Plaza, Memphis Businessmen's Club Building, Fogelman Downtown Y.M.C.A, Old Daisy Theater, Gaston Community Center, Library and Day Care, Christopher Columbus Park, New Daisy Theater, United American Bank Building, One South Main Street, 378-384 South Main Street, and Perkins Garden Apartments to name a few. With the assistance of his son, Anthony, he became Chairman of the Memphis Development Foundation and ensured that the Orpheum Theater was not torn down and that it was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. A new-build design of his was One Memphis Place. In 1986, he was also the Technical Advisor to the Mayor & Committee for the Lighting of the Hernando Desoto Bridge, and was instrumental in getting the bridge lit.

In 1988, he completed an eight-year term on the International Relations Committee of the American Institute of Architects in Washington, DC. During this term, he represented the Institute as liaison to the Federation of Pan American Architects (FPAA). In addition, he served as the Deputy Council Member of the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA), whose headquarters are in Paris, France. He served two years as Managing Director of the "Programme for Continuing Education" of UIA. In these roles, he participated in various Congresses and Assemblies of both FPAA and UIA. He represented the AIA in Egypt, England, Ireland, Brazil, the Netherlands, Russia, Estonia and Poland. He also represented UIA at a UNESCO Symposium in Paris, France on "Design of Schools of Architecture and their impact on the Education of European Architects" and he represented the UIA for the inspection of the Soviet Olympic Architecture.

Since his retirement from his architectural practice in 1988, he joined the Henry Turley Company and spearheaded the development of two of the most exciting and challenging mixed-use planned communities in the mid-south area. Harbor Town is located on North Mud Island and South Bluffs located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Memphis. He served as Director of Development for the Developers of Harbor Town and South Bluffs, respectively. He was responsible for the coordination and administration of planning, design, and construction of both communities.

In 1991, he completed a six-year term as Chairman of the Memphis and Shelby County Building Code Advisory Board and remained a current member of the Board until the past few years. During this period, he successfully managed the highly controversial debate and adoption of the city and county's first seismic building code. From 2004-2006 he served again as Chairman of the Building Code Advisory Board whose primary task was the adoption of the New International Building Code.

In 2001, he retired as Vice-President of Development of Henry Turley Company and became a private consultant for design, construction and development as Principle of Bologna Consultants, he assisted other Developers, Institutions, and individuals with the process of bringing their projects to fruition. Projects included Greenleaf Apartments, Central School Boy's and Girl's Club - Adaptive Use Union City, TN, West TN Boy's and Girl's Club, Glenmary Apartment rehabilitation, Van Vleet Flats, Barbaro Flats, Pressbox Adaptive Use Building, the Monarch, and Crosstown Concourse. In Jackson, TN, he completed Lift Wellness Center, Jackson Walk Plaza and Apartments, and South Junction Apartments.

He had a highly successful architecture and development career in Memphis which earned him many awards and accolades including becoming a Fellow in the American Institute of Architecture. In 1994, he received The Francis Gassner Award from the Memphis AIA Chapter. In 2001, he received a "Downtown Pioneer" Award from the Memphis "Downtowner" Magazine for his involvement in downtown's revitalization. In 2004, he received the Memphis Center City Commission's Vision Award. In 2009, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Memphis Chapter of Lambda Alpha International a Society for the Advancement of Land Economics. In 2022, he received a duck footprint on the Duck Walk Hall of Fame outside the Peabody Hotel. In 2023, a bridge in Harbor Town was dedicated to him by the community.

Tony’s greatest pride was his family. Tony and Dee have lived in Harbor Town for 32 years, they have three adult children Greg Bologna, Anthony Bologna, and Donna Bologna McCraw (Tom). He has seven grandchildren that he was so very proud of, Deanna McCraw, Ben McCraw, Alex McCraw, Angelo Bologna, Isabella Bologna, Anthony Bologna (Lizzie), and Sofia Bologna. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard and retired after active duty and the reserves. He was a pilot in his younger years, loved to Scuba dive in Aruba and was an avid sailor of his catamaran, spending most weekends with his family at Arkabutla Lake. He was a generous and loving man who was adored by his family and friends.

A memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 pm on January 13th at St. Peter Catholic Church at 190 Adams Avenue, Memphis. There will be a reception immediately following the Mass in the Parish Hall. We understand that there may be a scheduling conflict for some. Please know that if you cannot attend the memorial Mass, feel free to come to the reception afterwards shortly after 2:00. Canale Funeral Directors are coordinating the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations on Tony’s behalf be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Memphis Food Bank, the Memphis Mission, or the Memphis Child Advocacy Center.