Robert Lee Fronk

Robert Lee Fronk, 86, of Weston, MA, died peacefully on September 5, 2023. He was born on February 8, 1937 in Salem, Ohio. Robert, who also went by Bob, was a devoted and loving husband, dad, and "grampa", and will be deeply missed by his family and lifelong network of friends that he always welcomed with kindness, patience, and occasional goofball humor.
Bob is survived by his wife, Janet Kertis Fronk and her sister, Joan Kertis; his daughter, Alison Fronk Barlow and son-in-law, Jack Barlow, his granddaughters, Katherine and Julia Barlow; his daughter, Michele Fronk Schuckel and son-in-law, Clint Schuckel, and his granddaughter, Caroline Schuckel, and grandsons, Matthew and Adam Schuckel.
Bob grew up in Salem, Ohio with his older brother Bill and younger sister Margaret where his love of family was first nurtured. Bob's daughters fondly remember Sunday suppers in Ohio; friends, family and neighbors were accommodated by opening the giant garage door, electric opener made by Bob, with tables outside, and dessert of homemade ice cream involving ice, rock salt and lots of hand cranking. Growing up in the 1940s and 50s, Bobby loved to tinker, explore and innovate with all motors or electronics, even wiring entire homes as a young adult, and was an enthusiastic member of the marching band in both high school and at the University of Mount Union, where he majored in physics and mathematics. Robert continued his engineering and business education at the University of Michigan, graduating with a M.S. in Industrial Administration. The boisterously played Victors fight song was a much-loved part of the Saturday soundtrack. Go Blue!
Robert served his country proudly in the United States Naval Reserves, retaining his 1960 yearbook from Great Lakes, IL Training Center, and telling stories of his time as Recruit Petty Officer Chief, Company 512, where he was honored to be a member of the Blue Jacket Choir.
Bob had a long and innovative business career, starting many high-tech companies and holding three US patents. He was the recipient of a "Faith in Massachusetts Award" for industrial expansion and contribution to the economy, presented by Governor Sargent. Bob and Janet moved to the East coast with Digital Equipment Corporation, but his entrepreneurial side won out and he founded Datatrol, Inc., a manufacturer of some of the first-of-its-kind software-controlled computerized voice response and computer terminals and networks, computerized credit authorization systems in retail department stores, gasoline station pump-top terminals, and teller information systems for banks. Bob later founded Datatrol's Lottery Division, which conceived and installed the first online, real-time automated numbers game. He eventually continued his career with Cambridge Digital, Arthur D. Little, TSC and Symmetrix, to name a few.
Bob put his family and friends above all else. Nightly family dinners were a priority, and Halloween parties were epic affairs involving entire home conversion to a haunted house with teams of neighbors, parents and friends, with garage door-operated train contraptions, homemade coffins on office tables, home-built cages, and cobweb-covered Miss Havisham-like dining. Alison and Michele's school projects received equal devotion and energy. With dad's involvement they created motorized teacups that stirred themselves, Whangdoodle paper mâché mountains, and Cyclops eyes that bled ketchup. The best thing was the arrival of Jack and Clint, sons warmly welcomed into Bob's world with countless weekends of house projects, electrical wiring, re-plumbing entire basements at their homes, fly fishing, sports, projects, traveling and eventually grandchildren where all these interests continued.
Bob loved European and stateside travel, volunteering his time and talent on numerous town committees, spending time at his gentleman's farm in Vermont, raising a barn with the help of Jack and Clint to house his much-loved John Deere tractor, hosting family holidays, playing the clarinet, dancing with Janet, silversmithing and woodworking, sailing, ice boating, attending Weston Vermont Community Playhouse evenings, and worship at the Old Parish Church. He was a licensed pilot and spent time every summer in Nantucket starting in the late 1960s, deep sea fishing and surfcasting, and volunteering at the Maria Mitchell Association rebuilding their telescope.
A memorial service to celebrate Bob's life will be held later. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Old Parish Church, PO Box 125, Weston, VT 05161.