Virgil M. DeStefano Jr. “Sonny” of Huntsville, Alabama passed away peacefully on April 16, 2026. He was 89 years old. His family: mother, father and sister, moved to Tampa, Florida in the early 1940’s. Virgil attended Villa Madonna Catholic Elementary School and went on to graduate from Jefferson High School. As a young man and throughout his life, Virgil had a passion for aviation, art, baseball, dogs (beagles in particular), all things Christmas, and being outdoors.
Preferring Alabama mountains to Florida beaches, Virgil would often speak fondly of his time spent as a boy and later upon his return to Huntsville after retiring from the McGraw-Edison Company, hiking, and spending hours on Monte Sano Mountain. He was a member of the Huntsville chapter of the Sierra Club. Chilly weather is where he thrived, walking, skiing, and amateur winter landscape photography were just part of his varied interests and hobbies. A lover of travel and sightseeing adventures, a milestone vacation skiing trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado ranked extremely high on his bucket list accomplishments.
Virgil was predeceased by his parents and his cherished sister, Betty. He is survived by three nieces, Pamela Marsh, Denise Roza, and Paula Dupree, along with numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and several cousins from his mother’s McLaughlin family line. Throughout his life Virgil maintained a core group of dear friendships, two of the closest being Teresa and Walter Brosemer who reside in Huntsville, Alabama.
Rest in peace Sonny!
