Anthony Romeo Destefano

Anthony Romeo DeStefano of Americus, Georgia, passed away on August 6, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland, surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.

He was born on September 24, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Natale DeStefano and Erminia DeStefano (née Fierro). Growing up in the city, he completed high school at Girard College in 1959. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962, where he served as the editor of The Penn Review, the University’s literary magazine. He then obtained his master’s degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1965. It was in Santa Barbara where he met his wife, Barbara DeStefano (née Lalousis), whom he married in 1974.

Anthony’s first love was literature, and he taught English literature at the university level until he entered Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, where he obtained his juris doctor in 1974. He practiced law in Rome, Georgia, and Americus, Georgia, until his retirement.

Anthony will be remembered as a devoted husband and father who actively engaged his children in many activities and guided them through their personal, academic, and professional endeavors. Though he grew up in a big city, he loved the small-town atmosphere of Americus, Georgia. He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he served as lector for many years. His special hobby was making furniture of his own design and personally renovating and maintaining his Victorian-style house in Americus.

Anthony is survived by Barbara, his devoted wife of 50 years; his daughter, Christina DeStefano Shields, and her husband, Michael Shields; his son Anthony “Anton” DeStefano and his wife, Blair; and three grandchildren, Gabriel Shields and Anthony and Georgia DeStefano. His grandchildren were the special delight of his last years. A memorial service will be held at St. Casimir in Baltimore.