(This was a speech/eulogy for my dad I made at his celebration of life, adding here with more extra pictures)

I would like to thank you all for coming to this celebration of the life of my father, Frank DeSantis. He has had a great impact upon our lives, in the community, upon his associates and especially to his family. We all loved him very much. My dad led a remarkable life from literally a child off the boat to a new world to growing up downtown and having a remarkable career as a lawyer in Hamilton. He wrote this out in an Autobiography that he worked on for over a year, writing it entirely on his phone in bits and pieces, which I posted online for anyone to read, bigalreviews.com or just linked from the memorial site.  It is quite impressive, 34 pages and over hundred thousand words. And with all these accomplishments I always thought of him as my dad.

(Dad with my sister and I, also we are babies)

My dad… was a big fan of Fox News. Like a lot. Lots of shushing. I know way too much about the talking heads on that channel by sheer osmosis. He was definitely a big fan of the nightly news as well. The man was opinionated and loved to be informed about current events. And he’d tell you, repeatedly. Whenever someone on TV said something about current events. It was like having live commentary. About the news. Every night.

(Christmas 2020 when I got my dad a bottle of wine and a MAGA hat, potentially his favourite gift ever)

I have so many fond memories of my dad. He was probably the person who got me interested in Star Wars, I may or may not have freaked out during seeing Return of the Jedi as a kid, and he always loved to restate that “Luke, I am your father” line. Which is technically not entirely accurate, but you get the point. Like almost every Canadian kid I gave hockey a shot and while I didn’t have a lot of success, mostly I “won” lots of participation trophies, my dad took me to practice and games. Also, there were a lot of early morning practices, and back then I didn’t know what a hangover was, and while I don’t know if he was or not, but there was Sunday morning practice and it seems probable, so thanks for that dad.

(Graduation with my dad, Nono Alberto, Nona Lucia
and Zio Tony)

He helped me out with school and during my last few years of high school I was even driving his old car. Very big car, he was a fan of big cars. Quite the ride. I worked about 2 summers at AgroZaffiro and I probably didn’t get much done so, uh, sorry. I remember going to visit Western when I was in high school and kind of remarked that I thought it was cool they had film studies, and he remarked about me finding a niche. And my dad even helped me find a gig I had for a very long time which was writing movie reviews for View paper in Hamilton, still going on my own website at bigalreviews.com by the way! My dad actually found a copy of View with an ad randomly asking for a movie reviewer, which I sent an email and got the job, which like never happens. Just by accident he set me on a path that I am still going on. 

(Dad at AgroZaffiro office circa 2004, either I told him to look badass or he was ticked, I perfer to think it was the former)

Sometimes over the last year and a half he’d watch movies and TV shows on his phone at night and the next day I’d talk with him about it. Like me, sometimes he’d watch some weird or dark action flicks. Sadly, I can’t really talk with any other immediate family members about Alien: Romulus, The Penguin or Gladiator II. He kept up with the Ticats and the Bills as they continued to not win, he loved to call out the lack of penalties the refs were calling. Those refs were blind, biased and both according to my dad. Same with the commentators too. He also watched a bit of the Leafs. Dad would complain the loudest about their constant power play passing without nobody shooting. My dad was a great complainer. He also has a tradition of stocking up on booze usually at around Christmas. So, he did that again last year, I went with quite the long list, as was tradition. Thanks Dad, I’m pretty set! Also, apparently my inheritance is a lot of leftover Glucerna and prune juice which I am very willing to negotiate for. Interesting trades are also accepted!

(Disney World, myself, dad and my sister early 90s, awesome outfits, my sister holding a handy vacation guide)

I spent a lot of time over the last year and a half with my dad. Mom thanked me for helping and I sort of downplayed it, mumbling that I helped where I could, and she said that he appreciated having me around for companionship. I spent a bunch of time going back and forth from hospitals and rehab homes just to hang out with him, usually I was the night shift. I felt even closer to him over this time. I like to think I helped him as he has always helped me. As he is still helping all of us. One of the last things he said to me was “You take care of my girls.” I responded something like “Yeah, I know,” and he said, “I’m serious!” So, this was two things, number one, once again an example of my dad foisting upon me yet another unsolicited task, but number two, more importantly it showed how much he loved his family and wanted them taken care of.

(Family portrait, definitely early 80s)

I made a point in the last month or so to always tell him I loved him whenever I saw him. Everyone tell your parents that you love them, it is always a good idea. Raise a glass. Dad, I love you. I will always miss you, you are my father and my best friend. Salute.