Ruben Gabusi Jr

Born in Tucson, AZ in 1959, he was the son of the late Ruben Anthony Gabusi, Sr. & Edna Gabusi (née Carrillo), and elder brother to the late Richard (Rick) Gabusi. He was also predeceased by his aunt Diane Carrillo, Serafina Grace, his uncles Louie & Gil Carrillo, and his maternal grandparents Gilbert (Chato) and Amelia (Trini) Carrillo.

Tony is survived by his daughter Amelia (Amie) Gabusi, aunt Dina Bolle & husband Kenneth Bolle, Sr., cousins Kenneth Bolle, Jr. and Allison Bolle, Patricia & her husband Benjamin Hurley, Sr., children Caitlin and Benjamin, Jr., and honorary family members Robin McCardle & Patricia (Cha) Duran. He also leaves behind best friend and very good boy Wilbur, his French Bulldog, as well as dear lifelong friends John Stapleton, Charles McCollum, & Kris Kanoza, coaching mentor Jerry Stitt, player-turned-colleague Edgar Soto, as well as hundreds of athletes from more than 40 years of coaching.

A lifelong Tucsonan, Tony graduated from Sacred Heart & Salpointe Catholic High School. He went on to study Mexican-American Studies, Biology, and Exercise Sports Science at the University of Arizona, and later received his Master’s in Education Administration from Northern Arizona University.

Tony (a diehard Dodgers fan) had a lifelong and meaningful career as a coach, educator and ambassador for collaborative athleticism. Coach Gabusi impacted schools all around the city, including the University of Arizona — as Assistant Coach (à propos for a third-generation Mexican-American Wildcat), Pima Community College, and many high schools including Catalina, Salpointe, Amphi, Cholla, Cienega, Mountain View, Santa Rita & Tucson High (recent inductees into the Badger Foundation Hall of Fame). He spent many summers coaching the USA High School Olympic baseball team in Joplin, MO. Alongside beloved friend and mentor, Jerry Stitt. Tony provided leadership at countless seasonal baseball programs, molding up-and-coming athletes into leaders embodying honor, collaboration and sportsmanship on and off the field.

Coaching was Tony’s true passion, and during his career he was always an advocate for the underdog, nurturing passion over prestige in his players, because pure ‘love of the game’ meant more to him than accolades. With this mentality, “Busi” (as he was affectionately known) created champions out of low-income, dedicated players, as he did for the 2011 State Championship, when he coached the Catalina High School Trojans to victory.

The only notable thing that Tony loved more profoundly than baseball was his family. Best friend to both his late mother Edna and beloved daughter Amie, Tony fulfilled the roles of caretaker, protector, and partner-in-crime, always leading with irreverence and humor.

In honor of Tony and his contributions to high school baseball in Arizona, the AzBCA has dedicated the 4A All-Star game in his memory.

Services: Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 @ 10am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Parish, 1946 E. Lee St. Information regarding his celebration of life will be provided at the services.

Tony has requested that anyone in attendance please wear sports attire in tribute to his lifelong passion for athletics. As always, Bear Down & Go Dodgers!