I would have told him that I appreciated his friendship through the years and that I had learned a lot from him. I really loved Frank like you do a brother.

This quote is saying that the speaker had a close relationship with Frank, who was more like a brother to them. The speaker is expressing their appreciation for Frank and all that they have been able to learn from him over the years. They are expressing their love for Frank, showing that their relationship was as strong as if he were their brother.