Frank Pasquerilla Obituary

Mr. Frank J. Pasquerilla, chairman and chief executive officer of Crown American Realty Trust, died Wednesday night, April 21, in Johnstown, Pa. He was 72.

Mr. Pasquerilla's company owned and operated the Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, as well as 26 other regional malls in eight states. Until 1993, the company split into two operations. The other part of the company, Crown American Hotels, owns and operates the FSK Holidome and Conference Center and the Holiday Inn Express, both located near the FSK Mall.

A native of Johnstown, Mr. Pasquerilla worked as an inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, and later became a bookkeeper for Crown American in 1951. The company was then a small masonry contracting firm. By 1953, he had been promoted to president and purchased the company in 1961.

He was a pioneer in the shopping center industry, building his first center in suburban Johnstown in 1953. He built the company's first enclosed shopping mall in 1963 in Altoona, Pa., and then expanded to the hotel business. In 1989 and 1990, his company was recognized as the fastest growing mall developer in the nation by National Mall Monitor magazine.

Mr. Pasquerilla was noted for his generosity to universities and charitable organizations. In 1990, he was guest speaker for graduation ceremonies at Mount St. Mary's College.

He was honored in 1984 with the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II, and has received many medals and awards from foreign nations and universities for his donations, such as an $8 million presentation to Georgetown University Medical Center.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and children, Mark and Leah.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Frank Duca Funeral Chapel, Johnstown, with a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled for celebration Saturday, April 24, at St. John's Cathedral, Johnstown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mr. Pasquerilla's name be made to the Blackington Endowment Fund for the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Frederick News-Post on Apr. 23, 1999.

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