Long time Lake Tahoe local and all-around Tahoe man Robert 'Fro' Frohlich passed away in the company of close friends and loved ones on Tuesday, October 26th after a long battle with cancer.

A writer, journalist, author, and regular contributor to Tahoetopia.com in recent years, Fro's words and prose graced the pages of books, magazines, newspapers and websites near and far for the last three decades.

FROHLICH, Robert John Howard “Fro”

On Tuesday, October 26, 2010, Lake Tahoe and the skiing industry lost a great friend.  Born July 9, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey, died October 26, 2010, Tahoe City, California, aged 55, from complications due to cancer of the appendix.  Preceded in death by his father, Steven J.R. Frohlich.  Left to celebrate Fro’s life are his mother, Billie Burke Rogers, and sister, Margaret Frohlich Pearcy, both of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and all his wonderful and loving friends in the Tahoe community and around the world.

Robert was an award-winning journalist, fearless adventurer, skier, sailor, climber, all-star lacrosse and rugby player, loving son and brother, and great friend to many.  In addition to coaching a local high school football team, he encouraged and mentored many young people, who responded with love and respect, and every dog in the community was his friend.

In 1994, Robert co-founded SnowTribe Productions, a charitable organization that produces multi-audio\visual shows and other events to benefit local charities.

A memorial service is planned for Thursday, November 11th at 4:00 p.m. at the Olympic Village Inn.  All are welcome to attend.

Robert’s generous spirit will live on through the newly created Robert Frohlich Scholarship Fund.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the fund care of the Truckee-Tahoe Community Foundation, P.O. Box 366, Truckee, CA  96161. 

The owners and staff of Tahoe TV and Tahoetopia.com wish to express their deep sadness and most heartfelt condolences to Robert's family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Robert “Fro” Frohlich

“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

These words from the last line of Tennyson’s Ulysses, aptly describe the character of Fro, who died this week.

He was a fairly young member of what will likely be termed the last generation of Tahoe “mountain men.” Many of the earliest ones were identified in E.B. Scott’s 1957 book, The Saga of Lake Tahoe. Others were singled out in Fro’s own 1997 book, Mountain Dreamers. Fro was in league with the strongest of them.

He was arguably, one of his favorite words, in a world-class with guys such as explorers Scott and Shackleton of Antarctica, a place Fro went to see a year ago even though he was in poor health. He never gave up.

Fro knew the Sierra in all seasons, writing in many forms, doing work of all kinds, making friends in all walks, and living full. We will miss him.

- Steve Brandt/Tahoe TV