At 92, former Whitefish Bay High School history teacher is still inspiring the community

• Tony Busalacchi, a 92-year-old Korean War veteran, has served the Milwaukee community in various roles, including teacher, trustee, and arts advocate.
• Busalacchi's extensive community involvement includes serving on the Milwaukee Public School board and co-founding the Milwaukee Opera Company.
• A lifelong educator, Busalacchi taught high school history and continues to teach older adults, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.

Tony Busalacchi, a 92-year-old Korean War veteran, has just about done it all for the Milwaukee area, and he's still going, using his skill as an artist to help the homeless in Milwaukee.

Busalacchi taught history at Whitefish Bay High School. He served as a village trustee and was on the school boards for Whitefish Bay and the Milwaukee Public Schools. He was the co-founder and first president of the Milwaukee Opera Company and a trustee for the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Busalacchi and his wife, Pat, also hosted a show called "Cultura" on Channel 10/36 in the late 1960s, bringing discussions of art and music to local audiences, the first color series on Channel 10, Pat said.

For 58 years, Busalacchi served on Milwaukee's 4th of July Celebration on the Lake Committee ― and hopes to make it to 60. He recently was the grand marshal for Whitefish Bay's 2025 4th of July parade.

If there's anything he can do to help others and the community, Busalacchi said he is still planning on achieving it.

"I am old, I am not dead," Busalacchi said.

Busalacchi began his latest charity at age 85

At age 85, with the goal of helping strangers, Busalacchi started a charity centered around his passion, art.

When Busalacchi learned that the former St. Anthony Hospital was being converted into 60 units of permanent housing to help the homeless in Milwaukee, he thought selling his art would be a perfect way to contribute. The project needed $1,000 to furnish each apartment.

To help, he created and sold his artwork, including mobiles, paintings and a collection of figurines.

After the apartments were furnished, Saint Benedict the Moor, which Busalacchi said is operated by Capuchin Community Services, started providing services such as hot meals, showers and emergency housing during inclement weather at St. Anthony's apartments.

Busalacchi continues to help this cause.

Busalacchi said he's raised around $250,000 to $300,000 for Capuchin Community Services.

Busalacchi said his creative vision sometimes starts with a dream ― literally

Sometimes, Busalacchi said, he dreams about what he wants to create and wakes up to begin the creative process. He also gets his ideas from what is happening in society. One of his artworks was inspired by Henri Matisse, a famous artist, and how he used leaves to create color and composition. Busalacchi used that same concept to create a 14-piece mobile constructed out of plywood.

Busalacchi, who's fascinated with circuses, created a carnival unicorn that required sanding and painting. He decorated it with old jewelry, crystal doorknobs and other objects.

Another creation was a huge flag sign called "Tears of a Bleeding Nation" with the stars representing a tear in honor of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

To raise funds, Busalacchi said anyone can buy his artwork. Prices start around $300 and he's sold pieces for $1,000. He said what people pay goes directly to the charity programs. Busalacchi said he pays for all the art supplies and donates his time.

"I never take a penny," he said.

He said the majority of his business comes via word of mouth.

When Busalacchi ran for a school board seat, he received endorsements from two different parties

Busalacchi served on the Milwaukee School Board from 1971 to 1979 and the Whitefish Bay School Board from 1990 to 1993.

In 1990, while running for the Whitefish Bay board, Busalacchi said he accomplished a rare feat: He received endorsements from both a Socialist, former Milwaukee mayor Frank Zeidler, and a Republican, former Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus.

One reason Busalacchi said he was able to get support from people of different political parties is because his primary focus was, "How can I best help that child?"

He said asking that question helped him stay neutral in politics and gain the respect of others.

At one point, Busalacchi said the Milwaukee Public School Board members wanted to build a school without windows for the classrooms. Busalacchi was adamantly against it and said he would resign if that were to happen. He said students needed windows to learn.

He succeeded.

Afterwards, he said he got a telegram signed by Black officials saying, “You are the only one speaking for the Black community.”

He described his political views as moderate. He emphasized the importance of voicing an opinion but also listening to others.

Always teaching history because 'if we do not study history, we are doomed,' said Busalacchi

Busalacchi taught for decades at Whitefish Bay High School and, even though he's retired from that position, he is still finding time to teach. He has been an official guide at The Basilica of St. Josaphat for almost 60 years. Busalacchi said he is on standby and is available to help with a tour. He has also taught seminars on controversial art at Saint John's on the Lake, a retirement community where he lives.

Whether teaching high school students or senior citizens, he said his passion stems from the importance of learning about history: "If we do not study history, we are doomed to repeat it."

'I wish more people who are retired would volunteer'

Whether it is education, service, veteran activities, or improving people’s lives, Busalacchi said he will find a way to do it.

And he'd like others to take on this task of improving the community, regardless of their age. “I wish more people who are retired would volunteer,” he said. “Charity is important, and I want people to see that.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or [email protected]. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.