Tony Spadafora

Tony Spadafora was born four blocks from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, breathing in a love of History with the doctor’s first slap.  He went on to teach English and History, with some time in Italy, Korea, and Malaysia.

     He has been a single dad, developing community as a cub scout leader, junior assistant (if not very good) soccer coach, and PTA volunteer.  School trips opened his eyes – all the fun of teaching without the paperwork.

     Good fortune, a date actually,  brought him to DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.  It was a tight-knit small town, so enamored with history that even the neighborhood bar had an unofficial historian.  Captain James, in a ragged denim jacket with a Marine Corps patch, held court at the end of the bar, next to a pile of history books.  

     The Captain recruited Tony into the “Rouge Saints”:  a group which stumbled towards a local church to cook for the homeless and veterans.  It brought a community together.

     Another neighbor recruited Tony into guiding.  Tony enjoys teaching civics to students, and surprising adults with personal stories which don’t quite make the history books.  The creative side of touring is tailoring the tour to fit the guests.