I want to start by thanking the new owners and editors of The Citizen for an opportunity that makes me want to wake up at 5am, grab that first cup of coffee, and hit the keyboard. In writing to highlight the best of Peachtree City, the first person who jumped to mind is my colleague on City Council, Frank Destadio.
Public service is a calling. Public service often involves tremendous commitment and sacrifice; usually it provides few tangible benefits (with pay topping that list!). City Council Member Frank Destadio’s dedicated public service has been a lifelong calling.
Throughout a traditional childhood in Connecticut, a storied military career, success as a project manager, and, most recently, more than a decade of service to Peachtree City, Frank’s philosophy has always been, “I should be doing more.”
Frank Joseph Destadio was raised in Connecticut by traditional parents. His dad was in the Air Force and his mom, like many moms in the hard-scrabble 1950s, worked part-time whenever the family needed money. Frank was born with a serious heart defect, an intraventricular septal anomaly that required major surgery and carried with it an uncertain outcome. He had to wait until he was 12 years old before he was strong enough to withstand the surgery.
“I will never forget my father, a big, burly Air Force guy, crying profusely when I woke up. My mother, she always cried.” After three months in the hospital and weeks spent regaining his physical strength, it was finally time to go home. His fear, uncertainty, and ultimately, recovery and newfound good health, shaped the rest of his life. “After that, I always felt I had a second lease on life, and I should be doing something for somebody. I should be doing more.”
In 1968, America’s military draft lottery was underway and Frank’s birthday, January 31st, was the 34th number pulled. “My mom nearly had to be picked up off the floor. They were taking 150 men every time they pulled your number. My dad told me to choose the Air Force where I would have a better chance at passing the physical.”
Frank was already attending the University of Connecticut in the ROTC program. He signed up for a five-year ROTC Aerospace Engineering program that he would then have to complete in four years. He graduated number one in his ROTC class and earned “Outstanding Cadet.”
He married Sandi their Senior year.
Frank started his Air Force career at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y. and quickly advanced through the ranks. He built two air bases in the Negev Desert while stationed in Tel Aviv, Israel. He worked at the Pentagon for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell.
He wrote Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance documents for Undersecretary of Defense Sherri Goodman and testified before the US Senate on matters related to environmental security.
Over the years, he worked at a series of Air Force bases including Andrews in Maryland, Hickam in Honolulu, Ramstein in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, and Langley in Virginia. He retired with a beautiful ceremony in Langley, Virginia, in 2000, and was conferred a saber carried by Sandi’s grandfather in the Mexican Border Dispute of 1915. It is one of his most prized possessions.
Throughout 30 years of military service, Frank forged lasting personal relationships with everyone from staff sergeants to four star generals. He remembers Colin Powell as “a great gentleman and boss” and “someone who managed by walking around. You never knew when he would walk into your area.” General Powell once autographed a photo for Frank’s mom with, “For Anita Destadio, a great American mom” and Frank’s mom always treasured it.
Frank and Sandy raised four daughters including a set of mirror twins.
After retiring from the Air Force, he and Sandi settled in Peachtree City. He managed school construction projects in Fulton County through Parsons Engineering, and water and wastewater treatment projects with CH2M Hill. But he felt he should be doing more.
He was appointed to the Peachtree City Planning Commission in 2010 and served for 11 years, seven of them as Chairman. In 2021 he ran for City Council.
Unsurprisingly, as a Council Member he prioritizes support for our military veterans. In 2023, Frank established Peachtree City as a Purple Heart City. He believes City Council works well but knows we could do better, and he tries to show the way with honesty, integrity and clear communication. He remembers is father advising him, “always treat everyone fairly.”
Throughout his lifetime, faith and family have been Frank’s guideposts. He serves as Usher and Eucharistic Minister at Holy Trinity Church. He joined the Knights of Columbus, quickly advanced to the fourth degree Assembly level, and served in a presiding officer role as a Faithful Navigator.
In a defining moment, he was honored in 2024 as the “Knights of Columbus Knight of the Year for Georgia.”
Now he is fighting a courageous battle against melanoma. Diagnosed in 2022, Frank has undergone intensive treatments as well as physical therapy, all with Sandi, their four daughters and seven grandchildren cheering him on.
He continues through treatments and setbacks, good days and bad, to work doggedly for Peachtree City. As Mayor, I am in awe of not only Frank’s steely dedication, but also his unwavering ability to tackle the tough issues, build consensus, and set an example of decorum in everything he does. I am grateful every day for his service. And we are all cheering him on.
