Augustine M. Fragala, Jr.
April 4, 1945 – July 25, 2014

Mr. Fragala passed away on Friday, July 25th at Hospice House in Altamonte Springs, after a four-year fight with Non-Hodgkins' Lymphoma.

Born in Brooklyn, NY to Catherine A. (nee Campisi) and Augustine M. Fragala, Sr.

He studied Urban Planning at Northern Virginia Community College, completing his coursework at Northern Colorado University.

He began working for the City of Fairfax, Va. as a summer intern before holding a full-time position there. He met and married his wife, Louise, and after five years, the couple moved to Cary, NC, where he became the first full-time Director of Community Development.

He was later hired by PBSJ and relocated to Miami. Both of his children were born there before he settled his family in Miramar. Mr. Fragala directed and led such notable projects as the DRI analysis and approvals for the Miami Dolphins' Joe Robbie Stadium, and four Miami Metrorail stations.

As a HUD fellow, at the onset of the profession of Urban Planning, he was a charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He was a tireless champion for extending the reach of the profession, and increasing public awareness of planning. He was instrumental in founding three APA Florida sections.

While living in Miramar, he became active in politics, serving as campaign manager at the local, regional, and state levels. He was a governor-appointee to several commissions, particularly judicial nominating committees.

He was awarded the Key to the City of Miramar before moving to Lakeland to open his own firm with his wife, Powell, Fragala, and Associates, Inc.

Their projects included the 3200-acre West Lakeland Development, High Speed Rail Planning & Public Outreach through 27 counties. PFA was the Public Information Officer for I-4 expansion through Polk County.

There, he enrolled his children at Santa Fe Catholic High School. He became deeply involved in Catholic education and local parish work, serving on parish councils and finance committees. He also provided visioning and land planning services for five parishes in the Diocese of Orlando, which included the development of church campus master plans.

In Lakeland, he continued his civic work while serving on the Planning Commission, and as Chair for three terms.

He had a deep love for the community of Lakeland and its people. He was actively involved in many civic and philanthropic endeavors, most serving the needs of children. He dedicated his efforts and time to Guardian ad Litem, Indian Guides/Princesses of the YMCA, public school advisory committees and Catholic school boards, and most recently he has been active in Married for Life and the Emmaus men's organization at Resurrection Catholic Church, sharing his deep faith and trust in God.

He is predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Dominick W. Fragala.

He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Louise, and their two children, Nikki and Trey, son-in-law Michael Barnes, and daughter-in-law Marisa Salazar Fragala. He had five grandsons: Caleb Isaiah, Laurence Michael, James Augustine, Dominic Peter, and Nicholas Fragala.

He is also survived by siblings Kathy Muzyka and Mike Fragala and nephew Chris Muzyka.

A funeral mass will be held in Lakeland at Resurrection Catholic Church on August 4th at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held the night before, following the regular 5 p.m. mass, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a brief service and rosary at 7:30p.m.

He will be laid to rest in Pinewood Cemetery in Winter Park, Fla., following a small memorial on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to an account via Community Southern Bank in Lakeland (made payable to The AMF Fund) that will support The Augustinian Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3, to continue Mr. Fragala's dedicated work to supporting Catholic education.

Flowers:
(863) 603-0596 or www.petalsoflakeland.com

Donations can be made to The AMF Memorial Fund via check or directly toCommunity Southern Bank in Lakeland.

More details to be posted soon with DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory: degusipefuneralhome.com

These days have been filled with honor and grace, love and comfort because of you. Thank you forever for seeing us through.