No doubt — Frank does it his way

My Frank DiGiovanni story:
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One day several years ago, way before the current Inverness Government Center came about, I saw Frank standing on the corner of Tompkins and Seminole, just sort of staring blankly into space.

“If you’re waiting for the Crown Hotel bus, it’s not coming,” I said.

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He didn’t look at me.

“We need to do something with this intersection,” he said, then glanced my way. “I’ll figure it out.”

That was Frank. Always figuring it out.

DiGiovanni, who retired as Inverness city manager in 2019, was the recipient last Friday of the Charles B. Fitzpatrick Heritage Award at the annual chamber of commerce Pillar Awards dinner.

This is the last award presented of the night. The Fitzpatrick recognition goes to someone who has made a “significant impact on the quality of life in Citrus County with a lifetime of service and community involvement.” It’s kind of a big deal.

Frank is well deserving of the award, though some might wonder. Like most leaders, he had to ruffle a few feathers along the way and to this day, STILL aggravates some folks for, I don’t know, just still being around?

DiGiovanni was both the most successful and controversial city manager I’ve ever known. His vision for Inverness is unmatched. The city wouldn’t have anywhere near the success it enjoys today if not for Frank’s vision and unwavering commitment to it.

Even if that meant bowling over a few people here and there. Like me.

My memories of Frank go back to his time as city parks director under City Manager Bruce Banning. Frank was hired in 1979 to essentially build what is now Whispering Pines Park, and he established a park mentality in Inverness that would only expand in the decades that followed.

Years before I caught Frank daydreaming on the street corner, he took me out to a clearing on the lake, little more than weeds and some old building foundations, and began explaining a vision for a park on Big Lake Henderson with a fishing pier.

I thought, “yeah, right.” Next thing, we have Wallace Brooks Park. Then Liberty Park. Then the Liberty Trail, a lakefront boardwalk connecting the two parks.

I doubt Frank went a single day without wondering what he could do next.

The Cooter Festival, Valerie Theater, downtown redevelopment, and the Inverness Government Center — all on Frank’s watch.

And of course, the Depot District. Covered pavilion and upgrades to Liberty/Wallace Brooks parks.

Yeah, it all cost millions of dollars. And since Frank tends to keep it all close to the vest, many of the details didn’t trickle out until after Frank’s retirement with some people outright saying Frank cut corners.

I don’t know about any of that. There seems to be lingering dissension; the same city council members who approved the project became critical after he left.

Not sure I ever grasped the source of that resentment. No project is perfect.

Visionaries like DiGiovanni are few and far between. While he says this wasn’t the case, Frank had a well-earned “my way or the highway” reputation for doing things. I’ll never forget interviewing his public works director who was a former Crystal River city manager. This guy LOVED working for Frank.

“Frank takes all the heat,” he told me. “He’s the face of the city.”

Frank and I had numerous run-ins during our respective careers. That’s the nature of the beast, and neither of us holds any ill will toward the other. He always has an infectious enthusiasm for the Inverness community.

Frank shows up to support functions and organizations everywhere, such as this goofy moment we shared during the city Christmas parade in December. He is a valued ambassador for Inverness and all Citrus County. We are fortunate to call him our friend.

If you see Frank biking around town, be sure to say hi.

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