Friga Construction co-founder, president dies at 60

Friga Construction Co. Inc. co-founder and President Randy Friga died Sunday of a heart attack, according to a company employee.

Friga, 60, started the Springfield construction firm in 1985 with his father Ralph. The company originally was called Friga General Construction, but the name changed after incorporating, according to FrigaInc.com. Ralph Friga is retired from day-to-day operations, according to the website.

Friga Construction employee Kim Heflin said this morning the elder Friga would help ease the transition following his son’s death. He’ll work with Randy’s son, Eric, the company’s general superintendent, she said.

The Springfield firm, 521 W. Melbourne St., performs commercial and residential construction, as well as remodeling work. The most recent project on file in Springfield Business Journal’s archives was a $900,000 JBC Tire & Service Center on East Sunshine Street. Other projects listed on the company's website include Parmele Law Firm, Stella's Coffee Shop in Republic and the Greene County Health Department.

Heflin said Randy Friga was a charitable man, most recently seeking to help as Haiti faces a hurricane.

“He was a wonderful man,” she said. “He was a very big advocate for others.”

Friga’s obituary at Legacy.com indicates he was involved in building homes and schools in Haiti and helping the Special Olympics, as well as serving as a Civil War re-enactor.

Visitation is scheduled 5:30.-8 p.m. tomorrow at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Ave. Funeral services are scheduled 10:30 a.m Thursday at St. Agnes, followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery, 4677 W. Division St.

In addition to his father, Randy is survived by wife Marsha and children Eric, Ryan, Tara and Sara, according to his obituary.