Frank R. DeLuca

Frank R. DeLuca, 76, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on April 20, with his wife Alina by his side. The second oldest of four boys born to Ann and Frank S. DeLuca, Frank Jr. excelled at academics. He was “the smartest person I know,” according to his younger brother, Ed.

Frank was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, moving with his family to Atlanta when he was eight years old, when his father was transferred with Coats & Clark Inc. Frank received his B.S. in 1971 from Clemson University and went on to law school at Emory University, graduating with his older brother, Ron, in 1974.

Frank’s first job as a state and local tax attorney was with Sears department stores in Atlanta. In 1977 he took a job with the tax department at Federated Department Stores in Cincinnati, where he moved with his young family. He furthered his career as a tax attorney with several international CPA firms, including Deloitte and EY, cherishing the many friendships he made along the way. He finished his career at Ryan and Company, retiring in July 2016.

Frank enjoyed playing the guitar and piano, often choosing a Beatles song from the songbook that permanently resided on his piano’s music rack. In mid-life, he played in a band with some of his fellow lawyer buddies. He loved watching and rewatching The Band’s famous concert film documenting their final show in 1976.

Frank was the king of bad jokes. You would often see him sitting at his computer, holding a mug of decaf coffee adorned with one of his favorite lines: Old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal.

In 2016, he married Wangdi Gong (Alina) who was by his side until the end. He is survived by his three children, daughter Christine DeLuca (Jacob), John DeLuca, and William DeLuca (Carissa); his three brothers Ronald (Dori), Edmond, and Martin; his granddaughter Gemma, and his nephew Nic, whom he affectionately called Nickel Man.

Frank will be profoundly missed. His funeral service will be held at Fischer Funeral Care at 3742 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Atlanta at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25. 

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