Obituaries : * Frank Modugno; Civic Leader

Funeral services are pending for San Fernando Valley civic leader Frank Modugno, who died in an auto accident Sunday. He was 74.

A lifelong San Fernando resident, Modugno was killed when his car slammed into a brick wall in Sylmar, Los Angeles police said.

Born Nov. 1, 1920, in San Fernando, Modugno attended San Fernando High School and Washington State University. After serving in the Army during World War II, he returned to the Valley and started Modugno Bros., a liquor distribution business in San Fernando.

Active in Valley civic affairs throughout his life, Modugno was long associated with the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, serving as chamber president in 1958-59. He also served on the city parks and recreation commission and the board of trustees for Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. Between 1991 and 1992, Modugno was president of the Los Angeles Mission College Foundation.

“He’s been very committed to this school,” Rosalinda Gonzales, current foundation president, told The Times in February. “He has brought in numerous supporters to work with the foundation.”

Among his many affiliations, Modugno was an active member of the Kiwanis Club and Boy Scouts of America. In 1966, he was named the city of San Fernando’s Man of the Year.

Modugno was also a member of several athletic organizations and served as an official at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy; two sons, Pat Modugno of Sylmar and Steve Modugno of Canyon Country; a daughter, Maria Page of Sylmar, and seven grandchildren.

Utter-McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills is handling the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Cross Medical Center or to a scholarship fund in Modugno’s name at Mission College.