Andrew Vito DeStena

Andrew Vito DeStena was born on April 21, 1932 in Elizabeth New Jersey. He was the son of Andréa and Stella DeStena from Italy.


Andrew graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1950. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and attended Harvard Business School's Management and Leadership Program.


Andrew DeStena was married to Ann Cocuzza for 51 years until her death in 2005. Andy and Ann are survived by five children: Donna DeStena Carter and husband James Carter; Andrew DeStena and wife Carol; Joanne DeStena; David DeStena and wife Traci; Lisa DeStena Radcliff and husband Phillip. Their grandchildren are: Heather Marie Goerzen and husband Grant Goerzen; Katherine Ann Kumpf , husband Benjamin Kumpf and great-grandchild Maddox Aaron Kumpf; Michelle Josephine DeStena; Nathaniel Keegan Carter and wife Alexa Carter; Nicholas Andrew Carter; Joshua Phillip Radcliff; and Jake Emerson Radcliff.


Andy's early work history included a wide range of jobs from working in his father's barbershop, delivering milk as a milkman, and even as a dance instructor for a Fred Astaire dance studio! After college he spent over 40 years with various engineering and construction companies that designed and built refineries and petrochemical plants around the world. In the course of his lifetime he visited 40 states and 30-40 countries around the world.


Over the years Andrew had many interests. He was an avid reader, obsessive movie and TV watcher, a collector of gadgets and all things technological. The most important thing to him though was family. He raised us all with love, respect, and compassion. He was the strength and foundation of our family. Through the years, as all of his children's and grandchildren's lives and the world have gone through many changes, there has been one constant. That constant has been Andrew's love for his family. His love will live on in our hearts forever.


The family would like to thank you for joining us in this remembrance of his life and for your love and support during this time.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 2800 Valwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, TX 75234. Conducted by, Fr. Michael Forge. Interment to be held at 2:30 p.m. at Calvary Hill Funeral Home, 3235 Lombardy Lane, Dallas, Tx. Conducted by Deacon Giuseppe Spoto.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the American Heart Association.