Reston resident Frank A. de la Fe died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. His daughters, Catherine and Mary, son-in-law Dionicio and grandchildren Megan, Caitlin and Juan, survive him.

De la Fe, a native of Havana, Cuba, retired in late 2017 from the Fairfax County Planning Commission where he served as Vice Chairman since 2013. The Board of Supervisors first appointed him as the representative for the Hunter Mill District in 2001. One of the highlights of de la Fe’s achievements was his work with the Commission on the approvals to bring rail to the Dulles Corridor.

According to the Fairfax County Planning Commission: “de la Fe worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the 1960s. From 1969 to 1971, he helped create the Illinois State Bureau of the Budget. He then returned to Federal service to establish the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention. In 1974, he moved to the Justice Department’s Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. He completed his federal career in 1994 when he retired from the Office of Personnel Management.”

In 2001, the Fairfax Federation named de la Fe its "Citizen of the Year” because of his commitment to Fairfax County through participation in a broad range of volunteer activities since 1972. de la Fe served on various committees and boards in Reston among them The Reston Association, then RHOA, Interfaith, now Cornerstones, the Regency Square Cluster board and Reston Soccer.

De la Fe was a long-time community activist. He served as the first Environmental Committee chair of one of Reston's elementary schools, as a director of the Reston Environmental Education Foundation, Reston Interfaith, and Reston Association and co-chaired the Herndon-Reston Recreational Facilities Task Force. He volunteered as a soccer coach and was involved with Reston swim teams.

De la Fe also served as Chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board during which time the Park Authority acquired more than 4,000 acres of open space used for both active and passive recreation for County residents.

Paul Baldino posted on the Adams-Green Funeral Home website that he had the good fortune to be appointed Director of the Fairfax County Park Authority and serve under Chairman Frank de la Fe.

“His leadership, wisdom, skill in working with staff, no-nonsense attitude, and wry humor changed the strategic direction of the organization and racked up a series of accomplishments that continue to benefit the outstanding park system enjoyed by Fairfax County residents,” wrote Baldino.

Hunter Mill Supervisor Catherine Hudgins said at a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting last fall that de la Fe's strength had been his ability to hear all sides of an issue and come to a decision that best served the community and Fairfax County.

Funeral service for Frank A. de la Fe was held Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church in Reston.