Robert Burton Frost

1938 - 2016

Robert (Bob) Burton Frost, W7TOM

Bob (Robert) Burton Frost, 77, passed away peacefully January 11, 2016. He fought a fierce 20-month battle against pancreatic cancer. Bob was one of those rare people we sometimes come across in life that captures us and pulls us into their fascinating orbit.

We will miss his wisdom and the spark he ignited in each of us to teach and learn. He was a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Friend, Engineer, Sailor, HAM, Scientist, Life-long Scholar, Mentor, and Super-Volunteer.

Bob is survived by his soul mate and wife of 25 years (Susan) Susi Frost (nee Felder), his children Stuart, Stephanie, and Rob Frost, grandchildren Dylan Stensland, Isabella, Alex, and Robbie Frost, sister Jackie Brunke (nee Frost) (Art), and brother Ted Frost (Alice) all of the Puget Sound area. He was predeceased by parents Robert Victor Frost and Muriel Frederica Frost (nee Strathy) and his dear sister-in-law Darlene Felder and niece Anne Fanthorpe (nee Brunke)

Bob was born and raised in Lake Forest Park, Seattle when kids could be kids. He built life-long friendships playing in the woods and on the shores of Lake Washington. He got his HAM radio license (W7TOM) at age 13 after being inspired by a crystal radio kit.

His fascination and expertise in radios, electronics and antenna design continued throughout his life. Bob held an Extra-Class license, he communicated on his HAM radio via Morse code and voice DAILY, but rarely turned on his cell phone.

Bob graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1956 and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (UW) in 1960. He was a UW Varsity Crew Oarsman, Commodore of the Varsity Boat Club and lived in the shell house.

He sailed for six decades and raced his sailboat Frostbite in the Pacific Northwest (PHRF) winning countless trophies. His was happiest when sailing the waters of Washington and British Columbia with family and friends.

Bob worked at The Boeing Company for 40 years and retired in 1999 as Chief Engineer of Boeing Information and Electronics System Division. His assignments included SRAM Missiles and Saturn-Apollo Rockets, Pace Shield, P-3 Update, and Compass Cope programs. He was Avionics Manager for the B1 Bomber Program, and Chief Engineer for the Boeing B2 Bomber Program.

After retirement Bob began classes at the UW through their Access Program for senior citizens. Over the next fifteen years he took nearly a hundred science and engineering classes.

Bob gave countless hours and valuable knowledge to the UW Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) Department where he helped implement two new popular classes. Every spring-break he joined students and faculty on a rocket launch trip to the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.

Bob and Susi loved spending time together at their beach home named 'Happy Cottage' in Seaview (Pacific County) Washington and were involved in the community there. For the Pacific County Emergency Operation Center in Long Beach he upgraded HAM radio equipment and operating procedures for vital disaster communication. As a key volunteer for the Community Beach Clean Up ourbeach.org he provided radio support and helped remove tons of trash and tsunami debris from the Long Beach Peninsula coastline.

In lieu of flowers Bob requested memorial donations to the Silent Key Scholarship Fund: spccf.org/silent-key-fund php which is part of the South Pacific County Community Foundation (SPCCF) Bob helped found this scholarship for Pacific County students pursuing a career in science.

See Bob's online Guestbook at www.Legacy.com.

Read Bob's courageous cancer story Caringbridge.org/BobFrost2

A celebration of Bob's life will be held for all those he touched, 1pm, Saturday, February 20, 2016, at The University of Washington Conibear Shell house, 3896 Walla Walla Rd, Seattle, WA www.huskycrew.org/map_directions.htm