Purebred Pigeon SepOct 2024

46 – Purebred PIGEON For 73 years, Tony successfully raised, bred, and showed pigeons. His work lead to countless victories, great respect for his knowledge within the pigeon breeding world, and National Hall of Fame status. Fellow Helmet breeder Dennis Manning wrote, “The Patti birds didn’t change the standard, what they did was make the expectations in the standard real.” Tony owned and managed the very successful New England Pigeon Supply company He was a susccesful showman with his Helmets and English Short Face Tumblers and was awarded the Master Breeder title. In 2021, I worked with him to publish his book, Raising Pigeons - The Little Book, Big Info, Tips and Advice. From his good friend Joe Powers, “Tony was a long time friend, going back to late sixties.  He was in the Helmet group (small number of guys) but we seldom saw him until the Nation- al. The main few of us – Myron Berger and the late Vic Eshpeter from the west, me from Minnesota, Dick Battleson of Iowa, and a few others at varying times, from different places would meet at Fred Smith’s (Illinois) over the summer for get togethers.  Al- ways a great time.  Then again at the Nationals.” From Greg and Joyce Cap, “Tony was a long time member of the National Pigeon Association, the American Helmet Asso- ciation and numerous local all-breed clubs.  He was the Show Superintendent at the 2003 Hartford, CT Grand National and strong supporter of the 2016 Springfield, MA Grand National shows.  He owned and operated New England Pigeon Supplies and would be supportive to all the local shows. We met Tony in the late 1980’s when Joyce and I moved to Connecticut and got back into pigeons. His family and ours would share time during shows and the many pigeon gatherings throughout the years.: Tony will be greatly missed. – Doratha Connally Anthony “Tony” Patti 1943 - 2024