Anthon Steffensen Cannon, Jr.

Anthon Steffensen Cannon, Jr. (Tony) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on October 3, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. A dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, he was 85.

Born August 26, 1938, to Flora Matthews Cannon and Anthon Steffensen Cannon, Tony grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and enjoyed a happy and active childhood. He loved sports, the outdoors, and many intellectual pursuits, including speech and debate. He was active in the Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle rank, and notably traveling to the Boy Scout Jamboree in 1953.

Tony graduated from East High School in 1956, and then attended the University of Utah on a debate scholarship where he earned a BS in political science in 1962. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and served as its President in 1961. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a mission in Australia from 1958-1960, where he was also a member of the Mormon Yankees, a well-known basketball team in Australia composed of young missionaries who played exhibition games all over the country.

He began dating Ann Caldwell after the fortunate alphabetical seating assignment in their Music Appreciation class at the University of Utah. They married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 22, 1962, and began their married life in Boston where Tony earned his law degree from Harvard University in 1965. They moved to New York City and then Briarcliff Manor where he began his legal career. He earned his LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 1971. They spent more than 13 years in New York and were blessed with a wide circle of close friends. All four of their children – Becky, Liza, Jenny, and Tony – were born during that time.

In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent the next five decades practicing law in the areas of corporate international tax and tax-exempt organizations. He loved being a lawyer, and he had a long and distinguished career, including the opportunity to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also appointed by the governor as a member of two State of California trade and investment missions to Japan and was an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School, where he taught the advanced corporate tax course.

Tony dedicated 18 years of his life to the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and he loved his associations there. He served on the Executive Committee, and as Chairman of both the Hollywood Bowl Gala Committee and Community Engagement Committee.

Besides his family, his greatest love may have been the University of Utah. His father Tony was a professor there, and he was proud that all four of his children and several of his grandchildren attended the U. He set up the Steffensen Cannon Scholarship in honor of his grandmother Ellen Christina Steffensen Cannon, which serves many deserving students to this day. He loved serving on the National Advisory Council and was a member of the College of Humanities Partnership Board. He considered Salt Lake City to still be his home, and he was intensely proud of his heritage.

Tony was a huge sports fan, and especially loved the Lakers, the Dodgers, and the Utah Utes. He was an avid runner for many years and completed six marathons starting at the age of 50 in various locations including Los Angeles, New York, St. George, and Big Sur.

Despite his many interests and a distinguished career, his greatest joy in life was his family. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ann; his children Becky (Tim) De Priest and children Kevin, John, and Andrew; Liza (Erik) Olsen and children Finn and Katherine; Jenny (Ray) Gallagher and children Sarah, Anna, and Peter Terry, and Liz, Ted, Kelly, Charlotte, and Kate Gallagher; Tony (Shelley) Cannon and children Anthon, Ella, Quinn, and Clayton. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Flora Cannon Weggeland.

Tony made sure his family knew they were his priority. He was a present and loving guide in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He made them feel they were capable of anything. He was happiest attending the many sports competitions of his grandchildren as well as their beautiful choir concerts, plays, and musicals. He was his family’s fiercest advocate during difficult times, and he loved them unconditionally and without judgment (although he never hesitated to provide them with his opinion!) He was curious about the world and had a love of people. He was mindful about everything he did and lived a wonderful life full of joy, family, adventure, and knowledge. He will be missed tremendously by his family, but they are so grateful to call him theirs.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11:00 am at the La Canada Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1830 Foothill Blvd, La Canada, CA 91011. A Zoom link is available for those who want to participate remotely: https://zoom.us/j/95364246234

There will be a viewing on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in Salt Lake City at Larkin Mortuary from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at 260 E. South Temple, followed by a private burial for family members at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.