Anthony DeSantis grew up in the Italian section of a very ethnic town outside of Boston. The dream of becoming a pilot—a dream that was influenced by his father’s love of aviation—led him to apply for an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated with honors and went on to serve his country as a military pilot for eight years. Upon leaving the Air Force, Anthony received a fellowship to attend Columbia Graduate School of Business and received an MBA. He then flew for American Airlines for the next 29 years, serving as a Captain for 18 of those years, and retired as an International Captain flying the Boeing 767. He continued to fly as a General Aviation pilot for 17 more years flying his Cirrus SR-22 on Angel Flights providing free transportation for cancer patients and Young Eagle flights to introduce young people to the joy of flying. In 2021, Anthony was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA for having achieved 50 years of aviation safety.
Anthony also helped start and manage a financial advisory company to assist other pilots with the financial aspects of planning and investing for retirement. Anthony’s limited free time included volunteering for the Civil Air Patrol, training young cadets in aviation disciplines, and helping to coach Buddy Werner Youth Ski Racing in the mountains of Lake Tahoe where they raised their family.
It was not until he suffered a stroke in 2022 that he gave any serious thought—or had the time—to write the story of his father’s fascinating journey to America he had heard so many times as a child. With God’s grace and the help of his family, friends, and health professionals, Anthony recovered from that setback and spent two years writing his dad’s story while he went through rehabilitation to get his life back. He and Judy live in Palm City, Florida with their dog Rusty.
The Stowaway in First Class, now an Amazon #1 Best Seller, is his father’s story and Anthony’s debut as an author for which he won a Feathered Quill Finalist Award.
Contact Information:
Website: anthonydesantis.com
Email: [email protected]
