Anthony Joseph Kane

With great sadness, we notify of the passing of Anthony ‘Tony’ Joseph Kane of Hillsborough, North

Carolina, on July 9th, 2026 at the age of 65 due to complications during treatment of Primary

Myelofibrosis. Although words cannot express his impact on those lucky enough to have known him, the

following short homage shares a few of the many joys during his life, both received and shared.

Although originally going to West Virginia University for a degree in Math, Tony became intrigued by the

emerging study of computer science and changed his major to reflect his intellectual passion. There,

Tony met his first wife, Patty, and was brought into the role of fatherhood at the age of 21 with his

daughter, Jessica. After the couple split, Tony soon met his forever match in Gail. The couple married in

1988 and, after a short stint in Tennessee, moved to North Carolina.

Two years after obtaining a master’s degree in Computer and Information Science from East Tennessee

State University while building his career, Tony and Gail had received blessings in the births of Michaela

and, two years later, Taylor.

In his career, Tony’s combined intelligence and compassion brought his names into rooms that he had

never entered. Having both value-driven and internally inspired determination, he excelled. Chances are,

if you had a problem, the answer was to “ask Tony”.

In his hobbies, Tony (‘Tone’) found joy in creating music, a talent he shared with his community in

various roles. Tony’s reverence of nature could be observed during his quiet contemplation on the back

porch or picking up litter on the forest trails without forethought. He spent his time with many nieces

and nephews, with daughters and granddaughters, with friends as family, sharing his insights as a

teacher and a forever student in life. Tony gave blood regularly, would encourage you to do the same,

and would remind you to give yourself and others grace as you do the best you can with the time you

have.

Tony is survived by his wife Gail, daughters Jessica, Michaela, and Taylor (David), granddaughters

Kaialyn and Althea, sister Jeanne Pitkin (N.Y.), brothers Jack Kane (Kathy) N.C., and Pat Kane (Nancy),

GA, brother-in-law Monty Holcomb (Nola) TN, many nieces and nephews and their children, as well as

friends and neighbors fortunate enough to have crossed his path. Proceeded in death and welcoming

him home are sisters Joanne and Kathy, mother Catherine, and father John.

Forever in our hearts, he will be missed dearly.

A celebration of life will be held from 3pm - 5pm on Sunday, July 26th, at the Colonial Inn in

Hillsborough, N.C