Our Region Loses an Influential Leader

Auburn Hills Remembers Southfield Mayor Don Fracassi

Before coming to work for Auburn Hills in 2001, I was employed with the City of Southfield as its Downtown Development Authority Director.  Mayor Donald Fracassi was a member of my board of directors, so I worked with him on a very regular basis.  At the time I was working for him, he had already had thirty years of service to the Southfield community.  He was Mayor during the most significant growth of the City and oversaw what is the impressive Southfield we know today.  What I can tell you firsthand is this:  the man lived and breathed Southfield.  While it’s impossible for an elected official to make everyone happy all the time, one thing is for certain – the greater good of Southfield was always foremost in his mind.  This was a man with strong opinions.  If there was one thing that was always clear to me, it was that no one should even try to undermine Southfield.  If you did, you were going to get an earful from the Mayor.  There is no doubt that he remained laser-focused on “everything Southfield” until he drew his last breath.  That is of course why he was referred to as “Mr. Southfield”. 

Farewell Mr. Mayor.  With fifty years of service to the Southfield community, there will never be another like you! Rest in Peace.

Thomas A. Tanghe, City Manager