Frank J. Frost Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, scholar, musician, veteran, archeologist, and public servant, passed away on Jan. 9, 2026, at the age of 96.

Widely known as a true Renaissance man, Frank lived a life defined by curiosity, creativity, public service, and deep devotion to the people and places he loved.

Born in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 3, 1929, Frank spent his early years moving west with his family before settling in Palo Alto, California.

Exceptionally bright, he entered college at age 16, but at 18 chose to enlist in the United States Army.

He served honorably during the Korean War, including frontline duty, and later assignment to atomic testing, experiences that shaped his lifelong moral seriousness and commitment to civic responsibility.

After his discharge, Frank settled in Santa Barbara, where he supported his young family as a professional jazz pianist.

Music remained a constant throughout his life, and he continued performing in local venues until just months before his passing, becoming a beloved and familiar presence in the Santa Barbara community.

Frank later returned to academia, earning a Ph.D from the UCLA whole mastering multiple languages. He taught at the UCR and Hunter College, before fulfilling his dream of joining the faculty at the UC Santa Barbara.

He also served as a visiting professor at Princeton University. His scholarly interests were wide-ranging and included classical studies, underwater archaeology, and fiction.

In the 1970s, Frank entered public life and was elected Santa Barbara County supervisor on a pioneering environmental and managed-growth platform, helping to shape the region’s land-use and environmental policies for generations to come.

In 1978, Frank married Amanda “Mandy” Clark, the great love of his life. Their partnership was rooted in shared intellectual, cultural, and artistic passions.

Together they built a rich life that included years spent living part-time in Provence, France. Frank is survived by Mandy, who will miss him deeply, as will all who knew and loved him.

Frank is the father of Frank J. Frost III; Esmé Eugenia Frost, who predeceased him; and Victoria Rufina Frost. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jacqueline, Nicholas, Kristin, Alexandra and Jared; as well as great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon, Friday, Jan. 30, at Santa Barbara Cemetery, with a reception to follow. Those wishing to attend the reception are asked to RSVP to vrfrost@cox.net.