Frank D. Stella, a prominent Detroit businessman and philanthropist, died Sept. 27. He was 91.

Born Jan. 21, 1919 in Jessup, Pa., he served in the U.S. Army during World War II, attended Officer Candidate School, and rose to the rank of major in the U.S. Air Force.

He was a graduate of the University of Detroit, and founder of the F.D. Stella Products Co., a restaurant supply house. He was also chairman of U.S. Coking Group LLC and a director of Metropolitan Realty Corp. and Covansys Corp. of Farmington Hills.

A long-time resident of Detroit’s Rosedale Park neighborhood, he was a member and supporter of St. Scholastica Parish, Detroit.

Mr. Stella was an active civic booster and supporter of many educational, charitable and Church institutions. In addition, he was active in political affairs, with an influence that stretched to governors and presidents.

“Frank was just a terrific man, and he loved and was very supportive of St. Scholastica. He was very concerned about his religion, and about other people,” said Fr. Michael Green, OSB, pastor of the northwest Detroit parish.

“Our long-time pastor, the late Fr. Livius Paoli, OSB, used to call him one of the ‘Three Musketeers,’ because he and the late Tom Angott (who headed C.F. Burger Creamery), and Mel Larson (former legislator and state GOP chairman) always used to come to the early Saturday Mass, and then they would all go to breakfast together,” Fr. Green continued.

“Frank was very faith-filled, and I always thought of him as a someone who was very close to God,” he added.

His business interests also included leadership or advisory roles with the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, New Detroit Inc., the Economic Alliance for Michigan, Michigan Economic Growth Corp. and the Economic Club of Detroit.

He served on the boards of such institutions as the University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne Community College Foundation, Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, Grace Hospital, Detroit Medical Center and Michigan Opera Theatre, among others.

He also was involved with Italian-American organizations and charities, and was decorated three times by the Italian government, including receiving its highest decoration, “Grand Ufficiale.”

Mr. Stella was active in the Republican Party at the local, state and national levels, and received official appointments to serve his country, state and city by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and both Presidents Bush, Governors William Milliken, James Blanchard and John Engler, and Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young.

Mr. Stella and his late wife, Martha (Yetzer) were married for 53 years. He is survived by four sons, William, Philip, James and Stephen; two daughters, Mary Anne Stella and Marsha Lawrence; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; as well as two brothers, Henry and Joseph. One son, Daniel, predeceased him.

A funeral Mass was concelebrated last Friday, Oct. 1, by Cardinals Adam Maida and Edmund C. Szoka, along with about 20 priests, at St. Scholastica Church, Detroit. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Memorials to PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy, Detroit 48221, or University of Detroit Mercy, Advancement Office, 4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit 48221.