Oct 24, 2019 5:27 PM
Article courtesy of Phelps Media Group.
Anthony "Tony" Joseph DePaula Jr., 75, husband of Susan Cassella DePaula, passed away on October 16, 2019. Tony was a successful businessman, avid horse enthusiast, family man and generous philanthropist. A long-time supporter of the Polo Players Support Group, Tony will be greatly missed by all in the industry.
Born and raised in Schenectady, New York, Tony always had a love for both horses and automobiles. In April of 1980 he opened his first dealership in his hometown, DePaula Chevrolet. The family business has since grown into the DePaula Family Auto Group, which has received the Dealer of the Year award by General Motors nine times. He took great pride in his work with automobiles and served on the board of many associations, councils and organizations.
Outside of his business, Tony's other passion in life was horses. An avid polo enthusiast, he invested in Saratoga Polo Association and played high-goal polo alongside some of the best polo players in the world. In 1984 Tony started sponsoring the DePaula Chevrolet Cup, later purchasing the club with three other businessmen. Tony also had a profound love for Thoroughbreds, which led him and his wife of 48 years, Susan Cassella DePaula, to purchase a box at the Saratoga Race Course. The pair went on to own their own stables for breeding and racing horses.
To friends, family and those who were lucky enough to meet Tony, he was known as a kind and generous man. Many charitable organizations, which ranged from local to nationwide, saw the kindheartedness of his donations. Tony's legacy will continue for many years in the philanthropic work he carried out throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Susan Cassella DePaula, his daughter, Kara DePaula Lynch (Paul), and his beloved grandsons, Evan, Carter, Mason and Trevor. He will also be missed by his true companion, his dog Bella.
In respect to Tony's wishes, a private service was held. Charitable donations may be made in Tony's memory to the American Heart Association.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
Read More
