Frank De Fina’s death this week came as a shock to everyone in the security industry. The industry has lost both a giant presence and a good friend. He made his mark as a talented executive at some of the biggest companies in the security industry.
The “Dark Restaurant Society”
I saw Frank De Fina a lot in dark restaurants. I was honoured to be among the security industry journalists invited to his twice-yearly press dinners, held at nicely accoutred (if dimly lit) restaurants in places like Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas, wherever there was a security industry trade show.
Frank named the gatherings the “Dark Restaurant Society.” More than anything else, it was a meeting of friends. Conversations could go in any direction, whether music (Frank Sinatra or Rock and Roll) or any number of other topics. Frank would hold court amidst a long table of journalists (some squinting to read the menu in the low light)....