Remembering one of NYC’s greatest sports photographers

Lafayette grad Causi died of coronavirus last year

April 12, 2021 Andy Furman

New York Post photographer Anthony Causi, who died earlier this year due to complications from coronavirus, is pitctured on a giant video screen during a moment of silence before the start of an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, Sunday, July 19, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. AP Photo/Kathy Willens

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It was exactly a year to the day.

The day the lights – and camera – went dark for Anthony Causi.

The Lafayette High grad spent 25 years telling stories through his lens for the New York Post.

But on April 12, 2020 he was another number that fell victim to the coronavirus at North Shore University Hospital.

At 48, well, he was way too young.

It was on March 22, a year ago, he posed a photo of himself after spending eight weeks in Florida – covering spring training.

He was put on a ventilator and fought that for close to three weeks.

The native Brooklynite lived in Oyster Bay with his wife Romina and two children — John, 5 and Mia, 2.

Causi will be remembered forever thanks to a wonderful gesture by the New York Yankees who dedicated a plaque in the first-base photo well at Yankee Stadium earlier this month.

Causi’s family was on-hand for the unveiling ceremony.

“Yankee Stadium was Anthony’s home away from home for so many years, and this permanent plaque serves to honor his hard work, vibrant personality and uplifting spirit,” the Yankees said in a statement. “Anthony meant so much to so many, and it brough us great comfort to share this special day with his family and loved ones.”

Causi’s wife, their children, his parents — Lucille and John, his sisters Dianna and Maria and his extended family all attended the ceremony.

“A passionate talent, who always got his shot,” the plaque reads. “He captured history with extraordinary excellence and uncommon care. His luminous spirit and brilliant images remain with us forever.”

In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, New York Post photographer Anthony J. Causi, right, talks to a man sitting on the front row at an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden in New York. Cauisi died on Sunday, March 12, from the coronavirus. He was 48. AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Causi joined the Post in 1994 as a photo messenger, graduated to photo editor and eventually became a full-time journalist photographer, which he called the attainment of a dream.

“Anthony Causi, quite simply was one of the best sports photographers in New York City, capturing all the major moments of the past 25 years,” Stephen Lynch, editor in chief of the newspaper, said in print, on April 2. “Soft-spoken, funny, but most of all kind – he was respected by those he photographed and admired by those with whom he worked.

“The Post that you read,” he continued, “and he newsroom that we work in, are less colorful today because of his absence. Our hearts go out to his family, and we share their grief.”

Major League Baseball said in a statement, “brought out the best in the players and the people of our National Pastime.”

After graduating Lafayette, Causi attended Pace University.

His uncle, Joe, is an on-air personality for New York’s WCBS-FM Radio. He said his nephew would take photos of Little League events from time-to-time – during his off hours.

His creativity was on display via his twitter account. His biography read, in part, “You can’t depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus.”

Those were words of wisdom from Mark Twain.

And like Mark Twain, Anthony Causi was one of the very best at what he did.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected]