Dr. Frank David Montalbano, 71, passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side on Sunday, July 9, 2023. Born in Tampa, Florida to Lois McAuley and Frank Montalbano on September 7, 1951, he spent his early life in construction and management before surrendering to the ministry in 1978.

Licensed to preach December 5, 1979, his first ministry work was an outreach program for the Mexican community in rural Cash, Arkansas. He was then called to serve as pastor at Providence Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas where he helped build a new worship center. He was ordained in ministry on March 29, 1981. In the summer of 1981, he returned to the Tampa Bay area where he served as interim pastor at MacFarlane Park Baptist Church.

He felt a call to go into ministerial studies at Williams College at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. While in school, he served as pastor at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In the summer of 1983, David returned to the Tampa Bay area once again and was called to serve as pastor at Titus Baptist Church in Riverview, Florida where he served from February 1984 until April 1990. During this time, he earned his bachelor's degree in theology from Bethany Bible College in Dothan, Alabama.

He accepted a call to serve as pastor at Westside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia and served on that church field from April 1990 until October 1995. While there, he completed his master's and Doctorate degrees in Ministry. At this time, his path transitioned from pastor to Director of Missions for the Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts areas.

In 1997, his Tampa roots once again called him home, and he was called to serve as pastor at Ballast Point Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, where he served from 1998 until 2002. He served West Bloomingdale Baptist Church, in Riverview, Florida until 2005. From 2007 until 2012, David served as the Director of Missions for the Sarasota County area.

Though medical issues forced David into early retirement, he never really retired. He continued to minister to everyone he encountered. He never met a stranger. When visiting another church, he was often the last to leave, even after the pastor! He touched the hearts and lives of so many throughout his years. He was always just a phone call away and his absence will be felt by all whose lives he touched.

David is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Paula, his daughter, Lynne (Steve) LaBrake, and his son, Jonathan (Audra) Montalbano, grandchildren Kaitlyn (Craig) Wood, Ethan LaBrake, and Sebastyen, Tobey, and Ellyn Montalbano, and great-grandchild, Penelope Wood. He is also survived by four half-brothers, a stepbrother, a stepsister, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 11:00 AM, with a visitation beginning at 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church Riverview, 8626 US Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in David's memory to LifePath Hospice or LifeLink Foundation.