1. FRANKLIN D. MARGIOTTA

Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Franklin Donald Margiotta, 82, died on Sunday, October 16, 2016 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.  He was surrounded by his family.  Franklin had a meaningful career in the United States Air Force that was followed by his work as the Founder and President of Brassey's U.S.  He was a loving father, husband, and brother.

He was the seventh of eight children born to James Margiotta (of Calabria, Italy) and Molly Brunner.  He was born in Union City, New Jersey on January 30, 1934.   He graduated Valedictorian of his eighth grade class in 1948.  He worked two newspaper routes to save money for college.  He attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service with his oldest brother, James.  His Air Force ROTC scholarship was very important to him, and he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, which started his Air Force career.  He met his first wife, Goldsby Whitehead while in pilot training at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, AL.  He flew T-33s, F-86s and B-52s.  Franklin and Goldsby married in 1960.

His Air Force career spanned from 1956-1983.  He flew B-52 nuclear missions in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War bombing missions in 1966.  Franklin earned an M.A. in International Relations from Georgetown University from 1966-67 and served as a Professor at the Air Force Academy from 1967-69.  He volunteered to return to Vietnam as an operations officer helping Cambodia expel North Vietnamese occupiers.  He then returned to the US to accept a PhD scholarship in Political Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His academic work for the Air Force continued as Dean at Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama and later as the Director of Research, Director of the National Defense University Press, and Director of National Security Affairs Institute at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC.  He retired from the Air Force in 1983 after 27 years of service.

From 1983-1997, Franklin served as President and Publisher of Brassey's US.  In 1989-1997    Brassey's was purchased by McMillan Publishing, NY.  He continued to serve as President/Publisher of this division. This publishing company specialized in defense, military, foreign policy, and international relations.  During his time as president, they published over 300 books, and he served as Editor of Brassey's Encyclopedia of Military History and Biography .

Franklin was not only a great intellect, but he was a very loving man, charming, with a great sense of humor and kept his wives laughing. He was blessed with two delightful wives. Goldsby Whitehead Margiotta shared his life from 1959-1998 when she died after a ten-year illness.  Their life together was very special and they enjoyed living in many locations around the United States with their two children.  After being widowed, Franklin was fortunate to meet and marry Natalie Panetti, also widowed, who shared his life from 1999 until his death.  They enjoyed their wonderful life together, which included many trips and lots of laughter.

Franklin is survived by his loving wife, Natalie Panetti Margiotta; daughter Maggie Margiotta Melson and her husband, Vollie; son Franklin Whitehead Margiotta, his wife, Jennifer Bascug Margiotta, and their sons, Anthony W. Margiotta and Nicholas A. Margiotta; his brother Ronald and wife Lorrayne Margiotta, and his sister Lillian and husband Joseph Hummel, as well as many nephews and nieces.

Two celebrations of his life will be held.  The first will take place 12:00 noon on November 4 at Ashby Ponds Retirement Community in Ashburn, VA.  Franklin will be buried after a second service at Arlington National Cemetery with a date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at

http://curealz.org/in-memory/franklin-margiotta