- April 26, 2024
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Caesar DePaco, with his wife Deanna Padovani-DePaco, and their daughter Valentina at the Portuguese flag raising ceremony. Mayor Jon Netts is on the left and Portuguese Congresswoman Mara Joao Avila is to the right. Photo by Jacque Estes
Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and Portugese Honorary Counsel Caesar DePaco raise the Portugese flag on Friday, June 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Caesar DePaco slices the cake at a reception on Friday, June 10. Next to him is his wife, Deanna Padovani-DePaco, Manny Viegas, and Father Antonio dos Santos. Photo by Jacque Estes
Rosa Ataide distributes Portugese flags. Photo by Jacque Estes
Judy and Giulio Padovani gathered with the rest of the guests for the raising of the Portugese flag in front of the consul's home. Giulio Padovani is the General Consulatant for the Portugese Counsel. Photo by Jacque Estes
Portuguese Honorary Counsel Caesar DePaco stepped outside his home in Plantation Bay to greet his guests on Friday, June 10.
The morning brunch was in celebration of Portugal Day, the country's day of independence. The flag of Portugal was raised in the courtyard of the home. by DePaco and Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts, and followed by the singing of the Portuguese National Anthem.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect we would have the Portuguese Consulate in Palm Coast,” Netts said. “But I am not surprised. I'm a regular guest at the Portuguese American Club, and all of their events are always well attended.”
The Portuguese Consulate opened in Palm Coast in April 2015. Prior to that the consulate had been in Orlando. DePaco said Florida has an estimated 150,000 Portuguese residents, with at least 10,000 living in Palm Coast.
DePaco was joined by his wife, Deanna Paovani-DePaco, who is expecting the couple's second child in September, and daughter, Valentina. Portuguese Congresswoman Mara Joao Avila, his in-laws, Guilo Padovani, general consulate, and Judy Padovani, and Father Antonio dos Santos from Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, were just some of the dignitaries in attendance.
County Commissioner Frank Meeker, who attended with his wife, Debbie, described DePaco as a “down to earth” type of man.
“His wife is going to be out of town next week,” Meeker said. “He didn't know what he was going to do in her absence. So he is going to come over to our house for a game of chess.”
Many of the same people gathered again, on Friday evening, at the Open House of the Portuguese Consulate's new offices on the first floor of the Chiumento building in Town Center.
