Lombardo was found by gardeners Monday morning, Brown added.
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FOR THE RECORD: This corrects an earlier version that stated Lombardo lived alone.
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Lombardo had been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer for about three years and was known for reminding fellow authority commissioners to get regular prostate screenings, Brown said.
Burbank Councilman Gary Bric, a longtime friend, said Lombardo had told him three months ago that he was given a clean bill of health.
Lombardo, who was first appointed to the tri-city governing board of Bob Hope Airport in 1998, was due to serve until June 2013, when his term was set to expire.
In addition to being past president of the airport authority, Lombardo had served on the finance and operations committees.
“His passion and love was the airport, and obviously his family and the Buffalo Bills — those were his three passions,” Bric said, adding that the two of them sometimes watched games together.
Burbank City Councilman Dave Golonski said Lombardo supported many local nonprofits and charities, particularly the Holiday Baskets program.
“He was always there to try to help people who needed it,” Golonski said.
Before serving on the airport authority, Lombardo regularly spoke at City Council meetings, often addressing airport issues. He was a strong advocate of a curfew at the airport.
While there is no nighttime ban on flights, there has been a voluntary curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for 30 years, which Brown said is followed “98% of the time.”
Lombardo’s son Anthony said his father also led efforts to change the name of the airport in honor of comedian Bob Hope.
“It was because he was a local resident and because of all he did for the city,” Anthony Lombardo said.
