Augie Fragala (April 4, 1945 - July 25, 2014)

APA Florida was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Augie Fragala. Augie Fragala had over 42 years of professional planning experience when he passed away on July 25, 2014 at Hospice House in Altamonte Springs following a four-year battle with Non-Hodgkins’ Lymphoma.

Augie had an impressive resume with both public and private planning work. As a HUD Fellow, Augie 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 increased public awareness of planning as evidenced by his prominent role in founding three of the current APA Florida Sections. Augie was born in Brooklyn, NY.

Augie studied Architectural Engineering at Northern Virginia Community College and received a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Northern Colorado in 1979. Augie began working for the City of Fairfax, VA in 1967 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 in 1972. Augie was hired by PBS&J in 1973 and relocated to Miami, FL. Both his children, Nikki and Trey were born in Miami before he settled his family in Miramar. As Project Manager, Augie directed and led such notable projects as the DRI analysis and approvals for the Miami Dolphins’ Joe Robbie Stadium and four Miami Metrorail stations.

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. Miramar recognized Augie for his civic and volunteer work by awarding him the Key to the City of Miramar. Augie served as the Assistant Resident Engineer and Office Engineer for the Miami/Dade County Transportation Agency from 1981 to 1984. He was hired by Keith & Schnars, P.A. as Planning Manager before moving to Lakeland in 1988 to open his own planning firm with his wife: Powell, Fragala and Associates, Inc. (PFA). Their projects included the 3,200 acre West Lakeland Development, High Speed Rail Planning & Public Outreach through 27 Florida counties. PFA was FDOT’s Public Information Officer for the I-4 expansion through Polk County. Augie continued his civic work in Lakeland, which included serving on the Polk County Planning Commission for 8 years, including Chairman for four years.

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.