Plantation Mourns the Loss of its Longest Serving Mayor

By Alexandra Tarallo

Frank Veltri, the longest serving mayor of Plantation who led the city throughout 24 years of expansion and progress, died late Thursday at the age of 94.

The Tennessee native served as mayor of Plantation from 1975 until March of 1999 when he retired after more that two decades of service.

Plantation has a strong-mayor form of government. Unlike a commissioner-manager government where a city manager is hired by the commission, in this form of government the elected mayor is responsible for the day-to-day administration in City Hall. Plantation is one of the few cities in Florida to implement this type of government.

Veltri had lived in Plantation since 1955. Veltri’s late wife “Gin” was also a pillar of the community. She was co-founder of the city’s historic museum, the Plantation library, and the Women’s Club, among other endeavors.

During Veltri’s government, the once small agricultural town flourished into a full service community with many new commercial and cultural venues such as the Broward Mall, the Plantation Historical Museum, and the Fountains Shopping Mall.

Today the city continues to thrive. Plantation real estate offers condos, town homes, and single family homes surrounded by tropical landscaping, golf courses, as well as many malls, shops, and restaurants.

Mr. Veltri is survived by his three children; Diane Veltri Bendekovic, Stephen Veltri, and Deanne Ventri Noles; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

The Ventri name still rings to this day within the city halls. His daughter Diane has served on the council since 2001.