Frank Augone, 47; Sold Christmas Trees for Church

Frank Augone, known to many as the Christmas tree man, died Thursday of a heart attack while working in the tree lot at St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church. He was 47.

For the last three years, Augone had spent December unloading, preparing and selling the trees at his parish church to raise money for a scholarship to St. Bridget’s Catholic School. The scholarship was established in memory of Augone’s son, Frank Jr., who died three years ago in an automobile accident at age 18.

Frank Sr. died shortly after he discovered that 30 trees had been stolen from the parish lot.

Friends and family recalled Augone, a telecommunications director at Universal Studios, as a man who readily performed good deeds, such as watching neighborhood children or lending a hand to fix a neighbor’s car.

“Frank gave to people all his life,” said Sandy McGill, a close friend of the Augone family. “He really enjoyed helping people.”

“He was the kindest man I ever met,” said his wife, Marie.

Nothing meant more to him than his children, she said, adding that he rarely missed an opportunity to watch his children participate in sporting activities. Augone leaves a daughter, Maria Augone Snook, 25, and a son, Danny, 15.

He is also survived by his grandson, Frankie, named after Frank Jr., and son-in-law, Robby Snook.

“He was a very special person who meant a lot to a lot of people,” said Father Ray Morales, pastor of the church.

A special memorial service, at which a Christmas tree was lighted in his honor, was held at the church Tuesday night.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today in the church, 16711 Gault St.

Each mourner will place a Christmas ornament on the tree. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.