Remembering DSO Member, Tony Evangelista
Tony pictured with best seedling Embrace X Kenora Jubilee at the 2015 ADS National Show.
Be sure to scroll the page to see quotes from friends and images of Tony over the years. His obituary can be found on the Columbus Dispatch website.
At times in life, one encounters individuals who radiate warmth and compassion, making it almost impossible not to be drawn to them. Tony was one of those individuals. He held a deep and unwavering love for his family, his profession, and his various interests, including his passion for dahlias.
Tony started growing dahlias around 1980 while he was still in veterinary school with around 20 plants and was part of the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society (GCDS). He put a pause on growing dahlias when his kids were young as he wanted to spend time with them but once they were grown, Tony began getting involved in growing and exhibiting dahlias again and became part of the Dahlia Society of Ohio (DSO).
Throughout the years, Tony earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished exhibitors in the nation. During this time, he also developed a multitude of tools aimed at achieving flawless blooms and ensuring their secure transport to exhibitions. If you had the privilege of visiting his garden, Tony would generously share his insights on plant grooming, soil improvement, growing organically, and even offer a refreshing beer as you relaxed on his patio, engaging in discussions about all things related to dahlias.
Tony and his wife, Jackie, were present at most local shows and it was not uncommon for them to embark on long journeys in their van to attend the Midwest and National shows. Together, they operated seamlessly, efficiently preparing and labeling the blooms for exhibition, like a finely tuned team. That partnership led to many successes at the bench, as you could often find Tony’s blooms on the head table.
Tony’s love for exhibition led to him joining the American Dahlia Society (ADS) Board, where at the time of writing this article he served as the 2nd VP where he oversaw Classification, Judges Accreditation, Seedling Bench Evaluation, Trial Gardens, Garden Dahlias and Research and Education. Tony has played an integral part over the years to help refine how the ADS judges and classifies dahlias (most recently contributing to the new Guide to Judging Dahlias). He has also worked closely with others on the virus research project drawing much needed awareness on the subject.
Tony's commitment to dahlias extended beyond his involvement with the ADS. He also actively participated in the Dahlia Society of Ohio. As the society expanded in recent years, Tony took on a unique role, focusing on guiding and supporting new growers. He generously volunteered to be a mentor, making himself available to answer questions through virtual platforms, email, or even in-person visits to their homes, providing valuable advice on cultivation and improvement. Additionally, as Co-Chair of the Judging Committee, he played a pivotal role in leading multiple workshops offered by the DSO, including judging seminars and a workshop on the art of staging blooms. He also imparted his enthusiasm for dahlia hybridization, motivating them to begin preserving their own seeds and offering guidance on how to assess the potential of seedlings.
Tony had a strong aptitude for hybridization and cultivated several varieties, including but not limited to Jackie's Red Devil, Liz Evangelista, Jackie Evangelista, Mae Evangelista, and Francesca Evangelista. His cultivars have earned numerous accolades from the ADS.
In recognition of his many years of contributions to the local growers, the DSO, and the ADS, Tony was awarded the ADS’s most prestigious award, the ADS Gold Medal, at the 2023 ADS National Show in Portland.
Tony left a lasting impact on countless lives, and his memory will serve as an ongoing source of inspiration for those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him. Although Tony is no longer with us, his legacy will serve as a reminder of his deep love for the dahlia and unwavering commitment to the GCDS, DSO and ADS.
“How very fortunate we were in having known Tony. He was one of the most caring, compassionate, gentle people I was privileged to have cross my path. How very kind and knowledgeable a person he was. No matter how many conversations we would have, I always learned something new about dahlias from him as well as information on the topic of organic gardening of course. I would invariably have a reason why I couldn’t do what he was suggesting. He would just smile and say, “Well, just try it, Jer.”
Oh, when I first visited his garden, I asked him what those bundt-like pans were for that were level with the ground and centered around each dahlia pole. That was his way of taking care of the millions of slugs that wanted to feed on his precious plants. I think the pans were filled with soapy or perhaps salty water (Tony would never want to waste beer on them, especially his own brew!) When he was in the process of moving, I visited him to take his pot roots to Mike. While in the driveway, I peeked in his 3-car garage and was amazed at a shelf of his Grand Champion trophies that filled the entire length! What a remarkable grower and exhibitor he was.
I have been giving dahlia talks to various groups over the years. I especially enjoyed having Tony to present with me. He was so very charismatic. It was crystal clear of the love that he had for the dahlia including a wealth of scientific knowledge he had as well. Attendees would cling to his every word. It was an educational thrill to listen to him.
What was so impressive about Tony’s exhibiting at shows was the meticulous care he and Jackie put into staging blooms. They worked so well together. It was a truly a pleasure to watch them.
Of the truths in this world, having lost such a caring and wonderful person as Tony Evangelista is most assuredly one of them.
Rest in peace, dear friend, and thank you for having enriched our lives.”
~ Jerry Moreno
I'm one of the lucky ones because Tony was my dahlia mentor. I learned a lot from him. I wish I had more time with him but, I will treasure what time I did have. My favorite memory was just this past September when I got to judge with Tony at the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society's show. I got to see him one more time in his happy place!
~ Tammy May
“Seeing Tony at Executive Board meetings and National Shows over the past ten years was always a joy. Besides that great smile, always accompanied by a big hug, Tony always had great ideas and was willing to share ideas to help dahlia growers.
Working with him and his contributions to the Bulletin was one of the best parts of my work as editor, with his meticulous writing, spelling and grammar, not to mention his incredible grasp of so many aspects of dahlia gardening and organic methods in our work.
He never failed to encourage and share ideas that helped us to make the Bulletin the best it could be. It was no surprise when we surveyed ADS members to about what they liked about the Bulletin, and Tony's regular articles were clearly huge favorites. He and his gift for giving of himself have touched all who knew him, and his impact on all of us will be evident for years to come.”
~ Linda Holmes-Cook
“I remember meeting Tony and Jackie Evangelista at the 1990 ADS National Show, the first time I ever attended a national show. Tony won Best A bloom in Show with Bill Holmberg, A ID Or, an origination by Madlyn Geisert (best known for originating Zorro). I still remember that exceptional bloom. Tony brought a number of blooms to that show, and it was difficult to find a fault in any of them. I remember being amazed that a veterinarian would have time to grow such amazing blooms. Tony and Jackie were friendly and glad to share with me, a new grower at the time.
Over the years, I visited with Tony and Jackie on many occasions, primarily at national shows all over North America. Tony's science background came through with his experiments and willingness to share results with other growers. Two constants were the consistently high quality of Tony's blooms and the friendly way that Tony and Jackie would always make every person feel special.
Those who knew Tony will remember him as one of the nicest people in our field as well as a top quality dahlia exhibitor. Saying good-bye to such a special friend is one of the most difficult tasks for anyone.”
~ Alan Fisher
“It sounds as if I missed an opportunity to know a great man. I met him at the summer picnic and he was so very warm and friendly. The club was so very fortunate to call him friend.”
~ Patty Fontaine
“I got to know Tony when I asked him to be one of the judges for our club's online photo contest. He eagerly accepted and we had a lot of good email exchanges during the judging process. We also had some great conversations at ADS events. Tony was such a kind and giving person, a great inspiration, and we will miss him.”
~ Larry Smith
“I didn't know him personally, only through the zoom meetings but he was always so kind and welcoming. I always learned so much from his perspective.”
~ Cathy Yatson
“Kay and I had the pleasure of meeting Tony at the 85th national jubilee in New Zealand. As soon as you start talking with him you knew you would want to meet him again someday. He even said “Come over and stay with us, we have a spare care you can use.” Sadly we didn’t get there but it was in our future plans. I will always remember how much you loved that Honey and Fig ice cream.”
~ Kay & Shirley
“I feel blessed to have known and spent time with him for so many years. He was so much more than dahlias and a very generous person. My heart is heavy, but to paraphrase the words of Kahlil Gibran, I will remember Tony and his humility “he gave much but knew not that he gave all”
~ Bob Romano
In writing this you ask yourself, “Where do I begin”!
I have been gifted so many fond memories and experiences over the years. My first impression was, Tony the dahlia guy. He and Jackie would cart their awesomely beautiful dahlias to the shows. All the great things that we heard about his growing skills were so true. Repeating this show after show. Observing the Evangelista’s was head shaking! The meticulous way that they groomed each bloom, each floret, each stem, and each leaf was a lesson we needed to learn.
Each passing dahlia event would groom our friendship. My passionate memories of Tony were his soft demeanor. Always stepping up to help when asked. Never any negative criticism. After the judging was over, he and I would walk the aisles to discuss blooms from top to bottom. He helped me to make judging about the entire exhibit. He would say, “Randy, Look at the presentation and balance”! Will it look good on the Honor Table? We owe it to take the time to honor each exhibit. It truly was an honor to be included on Tony’s judging team. He took the time to teach and answer questions from the rest of the team.
Tony’s passion to grow with the strictest of organic approaches was spread to many others. His following is growing. He made quite an impact at every Midwest Dahlia Conference Spring Meeting program. He always received the most questions about his organic garden style, which he shared with a smile.
We all knew Tony because of dahlias. But the beautiful part of my dear friend ran deeper than just dahlias. It was so easy to be his friend, he talked and helped everyone who was open to it. We talked often about family but would end every conversation with what about those “Buckeyes”!?
Even thou I weep; I know that Tony Evangelista will be forever a member of my judging team.
~ Randy Foith
“My favorite memories of Tony come from our interactions as co-chairs of the DSO Judging Committee. We agreed on 90% of the judging issues that matter and always found mutual respect in those areas where we had different perspectives. That mutual respect is exactly the right basis for the discussions that take place in every judging scenario. Tony’s experience and knowledge of all aspects of dahlias were unexcelled. He brought that expertise to all of us with humility and good will. I will sorely miss those discussions!
My favorite Tony story is about his Kenora Wildfire entry at the National Show on Long Island. He, with Jackie’s help, was an expert exhibitor and his entry made its way to the head table at the show. I had the privilege of being a part of the head table judging team, along with several other (intimidating!) senior judges. The team chairman got us started in a very unusual, but welcome, way, by saying something along the lines of ‘well, folks, this is a first for me, but now that we’ve all looked at the entries, can we start by agreeing that the Kenora Wildfire (Tony’s) can’t possibly be beat?’ All immediately agreed. That entry was probably the best entry I’ve ever seen. Even Tony had to admit that, ‘Yeah, that was a pretty good Kenora Wildfire.’ It was virtually perfect.”
~ Ron Miner
“Tony was the greatest. He was so welcoming to me when I joined the DSO and became my dahlia mentor over the past couple of years. I loved anytime I got to hang out with him. Whether we were going through his garden together, talking about the society, or just catching a drink together out in Portland (ADS planning meeting) or at his house drinking tea with Jackie and feeding all of the animals.
While Tony was focused on exhibition and my focus is more on dahlias for cut flowers - he often encouraged me to keep growing. He helped me to get the ADS cut flower committee started, shared seedlings with me that weren’t exhibition quality but great cut flowers, and often offered to help me in any way possible.
One of the seedlings he passed onto me, I decided to name Jess TeeHee. I wanted his initials in the name and it was kind of our joke that he now had a cut flower out in the world.
Another favorite moment of our friendship is when he and Jackie came to my house, in the sweltering heat—microscope in hand—to help me diagnose spider mites. And yes I did have them, but my husband nuked them with all of the sylet oil that Tony had recommended so crisis adverted.
Since he moved to Columbus, I didn’t see him as much but we texted often and I sent him numerous pictures of seedlings that I had and he would give me his opinion on each. Encouraging me to keep going, supporting me even if they weren’t exhibition quality.
His generosity is unmatched and I’m thankful for the time I was able to spend with him. He will be greatly missed”
~ Jess Becker
“He was such a dear man, willing to help and teach. His love for his family and his flowers shined through in so many ways.”
~ Colletta & Larry
“I didn't know him personally, but I appreciate all of the valuable information that he provided in the online zoom meetings and picnic.”
~ Kimberly Ryan
“Tony was such a generous person and gave so much of his time and expertise to so many of us.”
~Kathy Burke
“While I have only known Tony for a few years and never had the pleasure of meeting him, he was my go to guy and a pleasure to deal with. Any of my many questions, any opinions that I wanted to share, any seedlings I wanted him to evaluate he always replied to them with his expertise and honesty. I will truly miss talking and sharing things with him. The dahlia world has lost a major contributor and friend.”
~ Robert Fackovec
“Tony was a friend and mentor to many and will be sorely missed.”
~ Brad Freeman - ADS President
