James A. Frost

1918 - 2017

James A. Frost, recently of Bloomfield, formerly of Simsbury, CT died March 16, 2017. He was born on May 15, 1918 in Manchester, England and was the son of Rev. Harry A. Frost and Janet Wilson Frost. He received a B.A. from Columbia College and PhD. (Amer. History) from Columbia University. Dr. Frost served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII becoming a Statistical Control Officer with the rank of Major. Following military service, Dr. Frost served as a Professor of American History and then Academic Dean at Oneonta State College in Oneonta, N.Y. At the same time, he served in the Air Force Reserves for 20 years rising to Lieutenant Colonel. He also authored or co-authored seven books and contributed articles to numerous publications and encyclopedias, mostly on the history of New York State. Dr. Frost's scholarship was recognized when he was made an Honorary Fellow of the New York State Historical Association. Thereafter, Dr. Frost served as Vice Chancellor of the State University of New York for Four Year Colleges retiring from that position in 1972. He then served as President of the Connecticut University System for Four Year Colleges until his retirement in 1985. At that time, he was given the honorary title of Chancellor Emeritus of the Connecticut State University System. Thereafter, from 1985 to 1999, he served as President of the Connecticut State University System Foundation. Dr. Frost is survived by his two children, Janet Frost-Naleski and her husband Victor Naleski of West Hartford, CT and Elise Frost Alair and her husband, Patrick G. Alair also of West Hartford, CT; grandsons, Julian and James Naleski; granddaughters and their husbands, Olivia Alair Dalton and Ryan Dalton and Allyssa Alair Murphy and William Murphy; two great-grandsons, Wallace Dalton and Colin Murphy; his sisters in law, Mary Wright Frost and Eleanor Lorenz Schneider; nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. Dr. Frost was predeceased by his son Roger Frost, his wife, Elsie Lorenz Frost and his brother David W. Frost. Dr. Frost will be remembered for his many contributions to the New York and Connecticut public colleges, for his books, his scholarship and his military service. He was a member of the Avon Congregational Church and the Country Club of Farmington. A Memorial Service will be held at the Avon Congregational Church at 6 W Main St, Avon, CT on Saturday, April 22nd at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Dr. James Frost scholarship fund at the, Connecticut State University System Foundation. Checks may be sent to Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System Office, Office of the President, 61 Woodland Street, Harford, CT 06105 (please be sure to note James Frost Scholarship on the memo line). Funeral arrangements are provided by Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070.