Joseph Gregory De Santis

Joseph passed away on December 21, 2022.

Joe had the good fortune to start life in New Jersey, in 1938 surrounded by a vibrant, loving Italian family. His parents, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins were good friends and advisors. They found positive outlets for his boundless energy and inquisitive mind, enabling him to excel at sports, academics, and leadership. Leading by example, they showed him Faith, and the importance of friendship and the magic of having fun.

He accepted a nomination to attend the new Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs upon its completion and until then he and his classmates moved from Texas and set his sights on graduating with the first class of 1959. Discipline, service to his country, the Honor Code, advanced studies, skiing, suited his temperament perfectly. He thrived.

During his 20 years of service, he retired as Lt. Colonel. He returned to the Academy and became the teacher cadets remembered. He also discovered the elusive, but transforming, “Ah Ha moment” that is so fondly recognized by students and teachers alike. He flew missions all over the world, had a desk job at the Pentagon, and was stationed in Turkey and the Philippines. His proudest flying moment was at liftoff with newly released American POWs who had been imprisoned in North Vietnam and were returning to freedom and their homes, at last.

After his first retirement, his fascination with airplanes rotated from flying them to building them. He worked for Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed, and McDonnell Douglas and enjoyed the technical nature of the work. It did seem to some that Joe had been given more than 24 hours in his day. He was a proud Rotarian in the Marietta club, a lector at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and President For Life of his Academy class.

His four daughters and one son provided comic relief and sometimes got swept up in his projects. They share many Dad jokes and have grown up to be fine adults who in unguarded moments sometimes say and do things that have a familiar ring to them.

Eighteen years ago he was diagnosed with Stage 4 renal cancer. Several protocols were ineffective and toxic, so the gifted staff at MD Anderson and Piedmont agreed to let him think outside of the box and encouraged him to “individualize” his treatment. His daily prescriptions included generous doses of fun with friends and family, travel, and quality of life first with necessary medical intervention wedged sparingly in between.

Joe is survived by Jo Anne, his wife, and by four daughters: Carrie De Santis, Daniela De Santis, Christina De Santis, Mindee Pandtle, and a son, Brendan Butler, as well as 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He is also survived by Marianne De Santis and Barbara Makar, his sisters.

There will be a Mass and Celebration of Life at St. Ann’s Catholic Church at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 17th. The address is 4905 Roswell Rd., Marietta, Ga. 30062. Light refreshments will follow at 3:00pm to 4:30pm in the adjoining Recreation Center. An additional service at The Air Force Academy is planned for the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider helping Meals by Grace provide food to needy families. Their address is: Meals by Grace, 775 Sanders Road, Cumming, GA. 30041-5307. Meals by Grace. Com