Life Member. Composer
3/14/1943 – 10/20/2021

by the Messina family

Frank Jerome Messina passed away in McMinnville, Oregon on October 20, 2021, of heart disease. He was 78. 

Frank had a lifelong passion for music, especially the trumpet. He started as a studio musician for MGM in the ’60s. In college, he went on to tour with both the Beach Boys and Paul Revere and the Raiders, playing trumpet, flugelhorn and providing backup vocals. 

He attended Los Angeles High and obtained several degrees from Cal State, UCLA and USC. His band was the Westside Jazz Ensemble and he was the director for the Marina Del Rey Singers. He was well known in the McMinnville community for the Frank Messina Band, a 16-piece jazz band. 

He and his wife Joyce were familiar faces around Gallery Theater, with Frank serving as musical director for over 20 shows. One of the charity causes particularly close to his heart was the annual fundraiser for Gallery Theater’s Jerry Paine Memorial style shows. Joyce produced the shows and chose the directors. They were awarded the President’s Award for service and dedication in 2011. 

Frank is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, son Michael, stepchildren Mark, John and Audrey, and grandchildren Nicole, Evan and Aaron. We’ll love you forever.