Fred M. Frohock's Obituary
Fred M. Frohock began life, as he often recounted, as “a little boy from Key West.” That little boy grew into an accomplished professor, a world-renowned scholar, and a loving family man. He passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at age 89, resting in his Coral Gables, Florida, home and holding the hand of his beloved wife of 62 years, Val.
Born on February 7, 1937, in Perry, Florida, Fred grew up in Key West and Miami and loved sharing stories of his student days at Miami High School and the University of Florida. He joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity en route to earning two degrees from U.F.: a B.A. in 1960 and an M.A. in 1961. He then received a scholarship to attend graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Fred earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from U.N.C. in 1966.
While in Chapel Hill, Fred met and married Val, who was earning her graduate degree in romance languages at U.N.C. After Fred defended his doctoral dissertation, the young couple moved to Syracuse, New York, for Fred to begin his career as a professor. In 1965, he joined the faculty of the political science department in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Fred proceeded to spend the next four decades teaching at S.U., advancing to chair the political science department and creating study abroad programs in Florence, Italy; Madrid, Spain; and London, England. He retired from S.U. in 2004.
Never one to slow down, Fred then moved back to his (second) hometown of Miami and joined the faculty of the political science department at the University of Miami in 2005. He chaired the department until 2011 and led several seminars in London. His course topics ranged from political philosophy to bioethics to law to films. In 2019, he stepped down from full-time teaching to become professor emeritus at U.M.
Fred was a prolific writer throughout his academic career. He authored twelve books and numerous articles, often combining theory and field work. His book Special Care, for example, analyzed decision-making in a neonatal nursery; Healing Powers focused on alternative medicine and spiritual healing; Lives of the Psychics studied mystical experiences; Bounded Divinities examined religion and politics with Santería as a case study; and Beyond critically scanned the evidence for life after death. His most recent book was a novel, Crossroads to Eden, a writing project that allowed him to explore a new genre and to return to his early and long love of fiction.
Accolades followed these accomplishments in the classroom and on the page. Fred was twice named a Social Science Research Council Fellow, the second time for a year’s study in London. In 2002, while on the S.U. faculty, he was awarded a Chancellor’s Citation for Exceptional Academic Achievement. And in 2018, he was honored to receive the Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
For all his professional success, Fred remained at heart that Key West kid. He was equally excited for baseball as for Shakespeare, for blue-streaked jokes as for visits to the Prado Museum, for his mother’s Key Lime Pie recipe as for fine Italian wines. He analyzed political morality in his scholarship, and he laughed playing in the backyard with his grandchildren. He often quoted Ernest Hemingway that the goal is “to last and get your work done.” Fred got it all done and more.
Indeed, Fred was even more devoted to his family than to his work. He and Val raised two daughters, both of whom followed their father into academia after successful legal careers. For a few years, Fred and his daughters all overlapped as faculty members at U.M. Lunches on campus complemented family trips to Jekyll Island, Georgia, and Fred’s cherished Florida Keys.
Fred spent his final days resting at home, as family members visited to express love and gratitude. We spoke to him, read to him, and cared for him—just as he always spoke to us, read to us, and cared for us. He died surrounded by love.
Fred is survived by his wife, Val; two daughters, Renée and Christina; two granddaughters, Kate and Genevieve; one grandson, Alexander; younger brother, Patrick; son-in-law, Harry; and several nieces and nephews. His legacy endures in his family, friends, students, and books. We celebrate a long life well lived.
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