By Judith Gannon Bircher
I’m a fan of old classic Hollywood movies and one of my favorites is a Spencer Tracy movie, “A Guy Named Joe.” Whether it was the character that Tracy portrayed in the movie or his own persona coming through I’ve always thought of guys named Joe as warm and friendly, approachable men of self-sacrifice and courage. With a guy named Joe you know where you stand, what he stands for, and you know if he likes you that you are his friend for life. Joe D’Alessandro is this kind of a man.

Joseph P. D’Alessandro is right at the top of the Who’s Who list in Fort Myers. Anyone who has lived in Lee County for the last ten years knows that D’Alessandro, over a thirty five year career span, served as State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit. Appointed by Governor Claude Kirk in 1969, at age 30, he was the youngest State Attorney to hold such a position, and was elected by the people to eight consecutive terms thereafter until his retirement in 2002. Retirement? Well, yes, to a degree that is. He is now a partner with the law firm of Goldberg, Racila, D’Alessandro and Noone, LLC, located in downtown Fort Myers and he handles many of the partnership’s Wrongful Death and Personal Injury cases. He serves on many local boards such as the Nation’s Association, Hodges University and several charities just to name a few.

Many accolades have come his way over the years. He was selected for “Who’s Who in American Law Enforcement”, awarded the Florida Outstanding American Award by the Florida Jaycees and also voted Man of the Year in 1983 by the Italian American Federation of the State of Florida. He served on Governor Lawton Chiles’s Criminal Justice Task Force and Governor Robert Martinez’s Drug Policy Task Force and Criminal Justice Information Systems Council. The walls of his home office are filled with pictures and mementos of his career, with hand written notes to him and pictures with astronauts and presidents.

Not only is D’Alessandro a member of the Florida Bar but he is also a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar. He is Past President of the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association and Past Vice President of the National District Attorney’s Association. He has the distinction of not only trying cases in Florida’s Supreme Court but has also argued two murder cases in front of the United States Supreme Court. He remembers with painful sadness the task of having to try the murder case of one of his own Assistant State Attorneys who was murdered in Punta Gorda and the attempted murder of another Assistant State Attorney.

When he was a student at the University of Florida D’Alessandro decided to major in Journalism after giving up on the idea of becoming a dentist. He confessed that his grades weren’t the best they could be and his father advised him that most young people don’t really know what they want to do, but, it would come to him and he was to be patient. Good advice. While researching the laws on Freedom of The Press for journalism class at the school’s Law Library, Joe found his passion when he opened up a book of Florida Statutes. There he discovered, laid out in logical thinking to him, was what he had been looking for. Like all men who have found their “voice” he was on fire, and knew what he wanted to do with his life.

After approaching the dean about entering the University of Florida’s Law School he was quickly advised that he would never be accepted and just couldn’t hack it. Joe remained undeterred. After graduation he entered Stetson College of Law, but it was only on a conditional basis, a one semester trial period. If he did not pull his weight within that time frame he was out. He excelled in law school because he had found his passion. Revenge is best served while fresh, although Joe had to wait several years for his. After being appointed by Gov. Kirk as State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit, and after several elections to office by the voters, he ran into an old nemesis at a meeting one day. The man sitting across from him was no stranger to the flourishing State Attorney. He spied the man reading his affixed name tag as the man said, “D’Alessandro….I’ve heard a lot about you and your good work and was very anxious to meet you.” To which Joe replied, “Well, actually, we’ve met before. You wouldn’t let me into your law school.” Taken aback, the former dean at the University of Florida still managed to spin it to his favor. “I’m happy to have been instrumental in your success,” was his smug reply.

Upon graduation from Stetson, D’Alessandro joined the Army Reserves and remained in the Reserves for seven years. He was attached to the 310th Chemical Company (Biological Integrated Detection System). His unit was set to be called to serve in Viet Nam but he got a last minute telegram that the orders had been canceled. Most veterans have a drill sergeant story, and Joe is no exception. It seems when the new guys stepped off the bus in Columbia, SC and fell in, the drill sergeant asked if any of the men needed to make any calls before they proceeded any further. Nobody spoke up. Any calls? Again, nobody spoke up. D’Alessandro was thinking to himself that he really should call somebody in the family and let them know that not only was he inducted that very day but was bused out as well. His parents were on a trip, so he figured he should call and let his aunt, Gussie, know where he was. Like a brave soldier, the next time the question was asked, he stepped out and told the sergeant that he would like to call his aunt. He proceeded to walk toward the barracks, assuming there was an available phone. But wait…not so fast, the sergeant screamed at him to “Halt.” “Where do you think you’re going soldier?“ “To call my Aunt Gussie,” Joe replied meekly. “Well, soldier,” the man with the steely eyes bellowed, “let’s see if I can help you out with that.” He was promptly told to stand on a platform, cup his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and scream out as loud as possible….Aunt Gussie…Aunt Gussie…Aunt Gussie for at least forty-five minutes. She very well may have heard him all the way to Fort Myers. One of life’s funny little lessons, which gives him a good belly laugh to this day.

One of his most rewarding jobs was working for his cousin, Frank Pavese, in his law firm. Jobs were scare at the time so the new graduate hung up his sheepskin, volunteering to work free of charge for a while just to gain experience.

He credits Gov. Claude Kirk, his mentor, with being one of the biggest influences in his life. “He is a colorful character and is a great man, a man of integrity,” D’Alessandro said of his friend. In fact, he asked Gov. Kirk to be the key note speaker at his retirement party and they still stay in touch.

The grandson of an Italian immigrant who helped build Grant’s Tomb in New York City is a great father to his son and daughter, devoted husband, and a diligent servant of the people. He’s grateful for his grandchildren and even baby sits with the grand-dogs, Paris and Roxy. He stays active working a few days a week and even finds time to cook his specialty dishes.

With his friend, former Lee County Sheriff Frank Wanika and their spouses, D’Alessandro has traveled to Spain, Portugal, England and to his ancestor’s home, Italy. His trip to Alaska remains his favorite. In fact, it was Wanika who urged him to retire and start traveling and doing what he never took time for. He shared the story of Wanika coming to his office one day and relating an old Indian proverb: You may have many moons to come, but how many summers? After reflecting on this he knew his old friend was right. Time to start another chapter in life, time to start that Bucket List.

What’s on Joe’s Bucket List now? Well, there may be a Hog in his future! He’s planning to take the certification class to ride a Harley. He and several friends plan on riding Harleys along the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. And, he and another friend are thinking about writing a book. He laughs and says they open up a bottle of scotch and discover they haven’t even prepared an outline by the time the bottle is empty. It’s a work in progress that I can’t wait to read. I hope he shares some of the infamous trials he presided over or that came through his office.

At 70 years of age he’s a happy, contented man. Joe says life has been very good to him. This charming, funny, likeable southern gentleman says his father shaped his life and character and any success he attained in life was because his father loved and believed in him. He’s a guy named Joe… whose father would have been so proud.