Former Amesbury Fire Chief William “Bill” Frost, 69, passed away Sept. 4, after a 10-year battle with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
He was born Aug. 10, 1948 in Haverhill, the son of Dorothy Kelly Frost and Hartley Frost. He grew up in Merrimac, and graduated from Pentucket Regional High School and, later, from North Shore Community College with a degree in Fire Science. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy, serving on the USS Kearsage based in San Diego, Calif., during the Vietnam War.
After serving, he was employed by New England Power Company at Salem Harbor Station and later at their Melrose substation. During that period, he also began his employment as a call firefighter in Amesbury in 1973. In 1976, he became a permanent full-time Firefighter for the Town of Amesbury working his way up the ranks to serve as chief from 1995 to his retirement in 2003.
Frost was a passionate artist working with both oils and pastels. He loved photography. He was a member of the Haverhill and the Amesbury Art Associations, displaying his works at many area venues and art shows over the years. Many friends and relatives possess some of his beautiful landscape and seascape paintings as well as still-life paintings. His eye for capturing colors in his paintings was truly a gift, and one he dearly missed as his illness progressed. He was a member of the American Legion Post 4, Haverhill, the Fire Chief’s Association of Mass., Seacoast Fire Chief’s Association and Essex County Fire Chiefs.
He built his home, and could tackle any job by just picking up a handbook or seeking advice from friends. There was nothing he was incapable of solving with his patient perseverance. He loved Irish music and trips taken to Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton over the years. Other favorite vacation spots to photograph and paint were Bar Harbor and Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and Stowe, Vt. He enjoyed his family time, especially time spent with his children and grandchildren.
Frost is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ruthann; children, Leanne Perron and her husband, Phillip of Hudson, N.H., and Daniel Frost and friend, Sarah Walazek of Newton, N.H.; sister, Barbara Gleason and her husband Scott of Atkinson, N.H.; and grandchildren, Lucas and Madelynne Perron. He was predeceased by his brother, Jeffrey O. Frost.
Visiting hours at the Highland Chapel of Paul C. Rogers Family Funeral Home, 2 Hillside Ave., Amesbury, are Friday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. A celebration of life service takes place Saturday, 10 a.m., at All Saints Anglican Church, 67 Friend St., Amesbury, followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery, Amesbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 304, Waltham, MA 02452 or to alz.org/walk in care of “Team William”.