Richard Frost Obituary

Captain Richard L. "Jack" Frost 91, passed away on October 22, 2011 in San Mateo. He is survived by his wife, Magdalena. Jack was born May 24, 1920 on the old Hashknife Ranch near Holbrook, Arizona and was a real cowboy until he joined the US Navy in 1939. He witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor from the USS Tennessee and ran one of the boats recovering sailors' bodies--a memory that would forever haunt him. He became a tugboat captain in the Navy, and fell in love with San Francisco when he served at Hunter's Point. He worked at Red Stack for 20 years and then worked as an independent pilot, helping to form American Navigation Tugboat Company. In 1980, with the assistance of his beloved wife, he started his own company, Bay and Delta Towing. He spent nearly fifty years on the Bay. His ashes were scattered in Bonita Cove outside the Golden Gate Bridge. A plaque honoring his life and service reads: Tugboat captain and ship's pilot of some renown If there's life after this, he'll live in bliss If not, he made the most of this.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Oct. 26 to Oct. 27, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Frost

7 Entries

Roger Kirk

November 3, 2011

In 1976 or 77 when I was 17 maybe 18 I was hired by a guy named Bob Whipple to do some welding on a tugboat named the "Captain Jack". A man in a suit,long overcoat and a fedora type hat came by one day while I was welding padeyes to hang tires from for fenders, and informed me that I was placing them in the wrong position. He told me where they belonged then left. As I started marking the new "correct" location Bob whipple came back and "recorrected" back to the original location. This scenario seemed to keep occuring till the project was completed. Captain Frost loved that boat.When I started running tugboats, when picking up Captain Frost after he'd docked a ship he'd come on board tell me go below and take it easy so he could run the tug back to the home dock, like a kid with a brand new bike.

He always treated me well, never told me how to run the boat while he was piloting and told others I was a natural "boatman". One of the best compliments I've ever received.Four years ago I became a pilot and at a retirees lunch shortly thereafter got a chance to speak with him for a minute through all the noise of a cocktail party. Two weeks later I received a beautiful letter congratulating me.

I'm honored to have been a small part of his life.

Dana Sartell

October 31, 2011

To quote Captain Ronald Charlesworth, or at least paraphrase, I am glad that this forum exists ... so that I can express my deepest condolences to the entire family at this time of most extreme loss. Although I did not know Mr. Frost well at all, what I did know very well is how much his family loved and cared for him and that speaks volumes for that man's character. Again, my most sincere condolences for your loss to the entire Charlesworth and Frost family for the departure of your loved one.

Ron Charlesworth

October 30, 2011

I am glad that this forum exists because it gives me the opportunity to express my thoughts and rememberances of a man who had a profound influence on me throughout my adult life.

I first met Richard Leo "Jack" Frost over 50 years ago when I was 20 years old and started dating his daughter Deanna
A few years later I started working at Red Stack Towboat Company where he was a tug captain and ships pilot, I was soon assigned to his crew and that was the start of an extremely close relationship most of which was on a daily basis where his guidence and direction was very important to me in my professional development.

Although we had our differences from time to time we remained very close both working on the tugs and as ship pilots.
We hunted big game and birds, fished for salmon and frequently shared a few beers together, we went on many vacations and cruises and visited each other's homes frequently, I was not only his son in law I viewed him as my very good friend, advisor and mentor.

He was known as "Jack Frost" on the waterfront and his footprint on the San Francisco maritime industry was large as was his talent as a ships pilot which was legendary and recognized by everyone in the business; his methods were an example to young pilots of "the right way to handle a ship", I know for sure that was true for me when I started piloting.

From his early days as a navy man aboard the battleship 'Tennessee' at Pearl Harbor on December, 7 1941 through his founding and operating of Bay & Delta Towing in 1982 he remained the epidemy of a self made man whose accomplishments set a high bar for young men and women to emulate and the example he set is proof that it can be done.

His passing will leave a void in my life and I am honored and gratefull to have known him and been able to to share the last 50 years with him. I will miss him very much.

Jani Huso

October 29, 2011

My uncle Dick was indeed a "self-made" man. My mother, Irene, was two years old when he was born. She loved Christmas and would relate her best Christmas ever (at age 6) when she got a popular doll and buggy and Dick got his Porter Brothers saddle (my cousin Dallas' children were given the saddle by Uncle Dick). His first wife, Gurtha, and his wife Magdalena always treated our family with respect. One of my favorite stories of Uncle Dick came from his autobiography, when he got crosswise with a teacher in the 8th or 9th grade, rode his horse several miles to Ham Eubank's ranch in northern Arizona, and hired on as a cowboy. Several days later, his dad, Leo, drove up there and told him he didn't have to go back to school so that ended his formal education and he started driving truck for his dad -- probably age 14. His penmanship and spelling were magnificent and he was a spellbinding storyteller. He was extremely generous with his family. He definitely was the Frost Family entreprenurial success story. Bet you and mom are having a great reunion. We will miss you, Uncle Dick -- you were definitely a member of "the greatest generation".

Deanna Charlesworth

October 28, 2011

My Father, Richard Leo Frost passed away on October 22, 2011 at age 91. My Dad meant the world to me. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and had been on the Battleship Tennessee December 7, 1941 then in the South Pacific after which he was stationed in San Francisco at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard where we lived until he was discharged after eight years of service. Dad worked for Red Stack Tugboat Company as a Tug Captain and sometimes took me for a ride with him. He later became a Ship Pilot of great stature and also founded Bay and Delta Tugboat Company. Whenever I was ill Dad would hold my hand and say, "I wish it were me instead of you." He had such compassion. Eleven years ago he and Mom moved to my condo building at my urging where I could better care for them, which was my great privilege. Dad was a great story teller, humorous, charitable and loving. He will be greatly missed and will live in my heart forever. Dad is survived by his wife, my Mother, Magdalena, daughter Deanna, two Grandchildren, Michael and Cathryn, son-in-law Ron, and many family members in Arizona. We will always remember him. Deanna

October 28, 2011

We should all be proud to have known a person like Dick. An original Cowboy, Pearl Harbor survivor, successful businessman, and philanthropist. A person that made a difference. I wish I had known him better. Barney Sullivan (San Diego Ca.)

Andria Houghton

October 27, 2011

Cowboy, Pearl Harbor survivor, tugboat captain, businessman...he was an amazing man. He and Magdalena were kind and generous to me, and I will always love them both.

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