Longtime Massachusetts operator George Sydney Anzuoni is being remembered as an industry visionary.
Mr. Anzuoni, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, died May 5 at age 94. His death was less than a month after his wife of 70 years, Barbara Anzuoni, died April 7.
The son of George and Philomena Anzuoni, he grew up in Revere, Massachusetts, a block from his father’s business, Service Bus Line. There, he and his five brothers and sisters helped out, learning many skills while developing a strong work ethic along with a commitment to serving family, employees, colleagues, and community, according to his obituary.
Mr. Anzuoni was an industry leader and visionary, said Mitch Guralnick, secretary-treasurer of New England Bus Association.
Following graduation, Mr. Anzuoni turned down a lucrative job offer to work at Service Bus Line at his father’s request. Together with his father and brothers, the family grew their business into a regional transportation and tourism system, whose portfolio over the years included Service Bus Line, Malden Transit, Saugus Transit, Everett Transit, Dowling Acceptance Agency, Brush Hill Transportation, McGinn Bus Company, Brush Hill Auto Body, Capeway Tours, Downtown Travel Service and Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Company.
His father purchased Brush Hill Bus Line, a bankrupt company founded in the 1920s to transport domestics employed on large estates along Brush Hill Road. The company also operated two commuter lines, and expanded into sightseeing, convention service, shuttles, tours and charters. The family acquired or started other bus operations, including North Shore Bus, Beantown Trolley and Gray Line operations in Cape Cod and Boston.
Mr. Anzuoni held several positions in the companies. A turning point in his life occurred when his father sent his brother Albert and him to work in Plymouth after acquiring Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Company in 1948 in anticipation of the Old Colony Rail’s impending closure.
He eventually succeeded Albert president of the family business, growing the company exponentially from a local transit service to a thriving passenger bus system that contributed to the economic development of the South Shore with its daily service to Boston. He eventually extended its route system to include Logan Airport and Cape Cod.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Anzuoni also employed his four children in the business and actively served as the president until transferring his stock and retiring last July at the age of 93. In April 2019, the family sold Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co., Brush Hill Transportation in Randolph, and McGinn Bus Co. in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Mr. Anzuoni was dedicated to supporting both the community and the industry. He was an active member of the American Bus Association and the United Motorcoach Association, and served as past president of both the New England Bus Association and New England Passenger Transportation Association. He received numerous awards from these associations for his contributions to the industry.
