Portsmouth, Nov. 25 -Thomas Basilio Cantieri, of Portsmouth, died of a heart attack Sunday, November 23, 2003.

He was born Lynchburg, on December 25, 1932, the son of William B. and Lucy Scott Cantieri.

He is survived by his wife, Emilee Hines Cantieri; daughter Catherine Cantieri, of Newport News; a sister Lucy C. Alexander, of Ablngdon; nieces Marybeth Alexander, of Rehoboth Beach, DE, Sarah Rice, of Berwyn, PA and Nan C. Wallace, of Springfield, MA and a nephew, William Cantieri of Lancaster, OH; as well as several cousins and great nephews and niece.

Mr. Cantieri graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill and from the University of Virginia Law School, and received a Masters from George Washington University. He was a founding member of The Virginia Gentlemen Singers and played on the first lacrosse team at the University of North Carolina. He worked at Internal Revenue Service and in private law practice in Kalamazoo, MI, Farmville, and in Norfolk. He retired in 2002 from Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service.

He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. He sang in the choir of churches wherever he lived, and served on the vestry.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 424 Washington Street in Portsmouth at 2p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2003.

Memorial Contributions may be made to The Salvation Army, St. John's Episcopal Church or to the Portsmouth Humane Society, 2704 Frederick Blvd., Portsmouth, Virginia.

Cremation Society of Virginia is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign the online guest register at www.cremate.org for Mr. Cantieri.