WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Frank Joseph Bulgarella, age 68, of Birmingham, Alabama, died August 21, 2004 after a valiant battle against cancer. He was reborn with Christ in Heaven 68 years to the date of his Earthly birth in Grand Rapids on August 21, 1936.
Mr. Bulgarella was a graduate of Western Michigan University. He was the first general manager of WLKM in Three Rivers when it began operations in May, 1962. He served as Executive Vice President of Civitan International from 1971 until 1985. Under his leadership, Civitan International saw its membership levels grow to the highest level in the organization’s history, it opened its doors to women as members, it expanded into Europe and Asia, and constructed its world headquarters building in Birmingham. After he resigned as Executive Vice President, Mr. Bulgarella continued his active involvement in, and vigorous support of, Civitan International. He served on several Civitan International committees, was a trusted advisor to International Presidents, regularly attended annual conventions, and served as President of the Birmingham Civitan Club. In honor of his years of leadership and contributions, Civitan International recently established the “Frank J. Bulgarella Fellowship for Brain Research and Developmental Disorders” at the Civitan International Research Center in Birmingham. In 1985, Mr. Bulgarella, along with his longtime friend and business partner Brian Connelly, co-founded Resource One, Inc., the nation’s foremost cause-related marketing organization. Mr. Bulgarella was a much sought-after speaker on charitable and cause-related marketing issues. His firm worked with numerous non-profit organizations such as Special Olympics Inc., Just Say No, The National Kidney Foundation, The American Cancer Society, and the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and corporate clients including Polaroid Corporation, Discover Card, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Nike.
Mr. Bulgarella was preceded in death by his father, Giuseppe (Joe) Bulgarella. He is survived by Myrna, his wife of 46 years; four children, Laurie (Michael) Jones, Lisa (Joe) Bowker, Joe (Dawn) Bulgarella, Julie (Harold) Oakes; 10 grandchildren, Natalie, Melissa and Joseph Bowker, Stephen, Wes and Holly Bulgarella, Josh, Zack, Connor and Kendall Jones; his mother, Esther Bulgarella; his sister, Joanne Scalabrino; and numerous extended family members.
The family will receive visitors at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Tuesday, August 24 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A wake service will be held that evening at 7:00 at St. Francis Xavier. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Wednesday, August 25 at 10:00 a.m. Father Marcus Voss and Father Gerald Holloway con-celebrating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: St. Francis Xavier School Endowment Fund, 2 Xavier Circle, Birmingham, AL 35213; St. Bernard Abbey Foundation, 1000 St. Bernard Dr. SE, Cullman, AL 35055; Benedictine Sisters Foundation, 916 Convent Rd., Cullman, AL 35055; The Frank J. Bulgarella Fellowship for Brain Research and Developmental Disorders c/o The Civitan International Research Center, 1719 6th Avenue S., CIRC, Room 137,Birmingham, AL 35294.
Published by AL.com (Birmingham) on Aug. 23, 2004.
