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Don Boyd | profile | all galleries >> Gallery of Memoriams >> In Memoriam - CDR Tom Vellanti, USCGR Retired tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

In Memoriam - CDR Tom Vellanti, USCGR Retired


Commander Tom Vellanti was in my Coast Guard Reserve Unit (ORTUAG 07-83479, renamed to CGRU Miami IV) in the mid-1970's. He was our Commanding Officer during part of that time. It's been 30+ years since I've seen him but I remember him as an excellent officer and commanding officer, with a great sense of humor and great people skills. I fondly remember dining at Picciolo's on Miami Beach with him and other unit members because he loved good Italian food and he invited us along to have a great lunch with great conversations and lots of laughter.

Mr. Vellanti was born the son of a World War I fighter pilot and housewife in Brooklyn, New York on February 13th, 1932 and he passed away on December 27th, 2008. He attended high school in Bay Shore, NY and finished at Miami Edison Senior High. He graduated at the top of his class from Civil Engineering School with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Miami.

Mr. Vellanti then went to the USCG Officer Candidate School in New London, Connecticut where he received his reserve commission and he served 34 years in the Coast Guard Reserve, retiring as a full Commander.

In civilian life, he worked as a home builder and real estate developer for fifty plus years in Hialeah, Homestead and the Florida Keys. He and his father, Frank Vellanti, Sr., brother Frank Vellanti II, and brother-in-law George Busher, Sr. together developed many homes in the Sun Tan Village section of Hialeah and The Sun Tan Village Shopping Center. They later relocated their operations to develop and name what is known as the community of Leisure City for a retirement community in South Dade County. Their company, Sun Deck Homes, developed the concept of a solidly poured concrete home which was virtually hurricane proof as a testament in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. He also developed Royal Colonial Mobile Home Park, Leisure City Stores, Coconut Palm Trading Post, Treasure Village in the Florida Keys, and Twelve Oaks RV Park in Sanford FL.

Godspeed Commander Vellanti! Please click on his name image below to view his obituary from the Miami Herald which contains more information about him and his family members.

In Memoriam - Commander Tom Vellanti, USCG (Ret.) - obituary
In Memoriam - Commander Tom Vellanti, USCG (Ret.) - obituary
1948 to 1950 - an advertisement for Sun Deck homes in the Sun-Tan Village section of Hialeah
1948 to 1950 - an advertisement for Sun Deck homes in the Sun-Tan Village section of Hialeah
Mid 1970's - CDR Tom Vellanti displaying unit award with our unit ladies
Mid 1970's - CDR Tom Vellanti displaying unit award with our unit ladies