Burbank airport commissioner dies at 57

Charles Lombardo, a longtime commissioner on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, died Sunday. He was 57.

Don Brown, who has served with Lombardo on the authority for about a decade, said he was found reclining in a lounge chair in the backyard of his Burbank home. It appeared Lombardo died sometime Sunday afternoon, Brown said.

“It looked like he was relaxing, just catching some rays,” Brown said. “He hadn’t fallen. It looks like it was peaceful for him.”

Lombard, who lived alone, was found by gardeners Monday morning, Brown added.

Brown said he got the call from Burbank Police just before an authority meeting.

“I was looking forward to seeing him,” he said.

Lombardo had been battling prostate cancer for about three years and was known for reminding fellow authority commissioners to get regular prostate screenings, Brown said.

Lombardo, who was first appointed to the tri-city governing board of Bob Hope Airport in 1998, was due to serve until June 2013, when his term was set to expire.

In addition to being past president of the airport authority, Lombardo had served on the finance and operations committees.

Burbank Transportation Commission Chairman Paul Dyson said he first met Lombardo about 10 years ago on a plane from Denver to Burbank.

“We talked airports all the way,” Dyson said. “He was very enthusiastic about aviation and loved serving on the commission.”