Francis Ernest DeSalvo

Frank DeSalvo (85) passed away peacefully at Regional Hospice in Danbury, CT on March 30th, 2020. 

He is survived by his adoring wife Joan (Streng), his proud children Stephen (& wife Catherine), Christopher (& fiancée Lyndsey), Douglas (& wife Mitzi), Donna (& husband John) and Carla Floratos; his stepchildren Kimberly (& husband Ken Collins) and Craig Streng (& wife Missy).  His loving grandchildren; Andrew (& wife Kirsten), Lyndon (& wife Emily), Colby, Rae Brook, Avery, Maya, Che, Aliya, Jax, Kyle, Kenna, Max, Maggie, Luke & Lilly and his great granddaughter Rose.

Frank was born in West Chicago, IL on February 22, 1935 and adopted by his loving parents Joseph & Dorothy (Schaufler) DeSalvo on March 30, 1936.  He attended Williams Military Academy, Elgin Academy and Northwestern University (’57).  After Air Force ROTC, he was commissioned to the Strategic Air Command as a Nuclear Munitions Officer at Whiteman AFB from 1957-60 reaching the rank of Captain. 

He had a successful leadership career in the global oil shipping industry working for AMOCO, Poten & Partners, DeSalvo Associates, and Maritime Overseas Corp.  As an executive, he distinguished himself through hard work, decisiveness, intelligence, loyalty and honor.

True to his Illinois roots, he was an aficionado of Abraham Lincoln and a life-long member of the Republican Party including the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle.  He was also a member of DOCA (Defense Orientation Conference Association).

After moving to Redding, CT, in 1998 he met his wife Joan and proposed after 8 days.  He made many lasting friendships in town, often through his patronage of local watering holes.  In addition to enjoying himself, he was an active citizen in Redding serving on the Board of Finance (2003-15), the Republican Town Committee, the RVNA Board, and active in the First Church of Christ, Congregational as well as supporting the renovation of the Gazebo in 2007.

He & Joan visited Sint Maarten for 2 months each winter where they enjoyed the warmth of friends and family.

Never one to miss a good party, he threw a Celebration of Life party on his 70th birthday in 2005, a black tie affair at Le Chateau for friends and family far and wide.  It was a brief window into the unique life and perspectives of this otherwise humble and reserved man.

 In 2018, with the help of Ancestry.com he was able to identify his birth parents and connect with his welcoming ancestors in Illinois during a visit to his childhood homes in West Chicago; a prelude to his final journey home.

A Celebration of Life service will be scheduled at a later date when we can safely hug each other and honor Frank's life together.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to: The Redding Parade Path & Gazebo, Attn.: Ellen Visnyei, 100 Hill Road, Redding, CT 06896

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