LCOC teamed up with the Cadillac & LaSalle Club (CLC) and several other car groups to celebrate a wonderful mid-summer casual social event—a day of BBQ, tire kicking and fun at Portal Park, Cupertino. About 50 attendees and 35 cars included a great mix of Lincolns, Cadillacs, LaSalles and other makes such as Buicks, Packards, Imperials, Hudsons, Pierce Arrows and several others.
Collector hobbyists and their family and friends were out in force to enjoy bountiful sunshine, fellowship and a tasty barbecue. Known as the Don Frolich Memorial National Meet, this event had been an area staple for years, but was discontinued during Covid. Happily it returned for 2024 and guests brought drinks, chairs, portable tables, tents or umbrellas to assure shaded comfort.
Frolich, a former Cupertino mayor and council member died in 1996 at age 67. He was beloved in the community and famed for cruising local streets often in his beige 1941 Cadillac, which he took out for such occasions as the United Nations’ 50th anniversary in San Francisco and the opening of Highway 85. He was an expert on fixing old cars and gave advice to Cadillac owners nationwide as technical director of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club.
Their members have kept his memory alive through the annual summer car meet and by inviting LCOC and other car clubs to participate over more than 40 years. What a nice tribute to an advocate for our wonderful hobby!
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Mr. Frolich, who died at his home on April 8, was a passionate jazz fan and piano player who was an original member of Emperor Norton’s Jazz Band. A week before he died, he attended a jazz festival in Eureka.
He was often seen driving his beige 1941 Cadillac, which he took out for such occasions as the United Nations’ 50th anniversary in San Francisco and the opening of Highway 85. Mr. Frolich was an expert on fixing old cars. He gave advice to Cadillac owners nationwide as technical director of the Cadillac LaSalle club.
Mr. Frolich was born in Ely, Nev., the son of the chief physician for Kennecott Copper Co.
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He attended Wasatch Academy in Utah and San Jose State University before transferring to the University of California at Berkeley. There he earned a degree in industrial psychology and met Rosalyn Stuparich, who he married. The two were married for 43 years.
He later earned a second degree, in mechanical engineering, from San Jose State.
After moving to Cupertino in the late ’50s, he took part in protesting a proposed ice rink, which led to the planning commission, where he served for most of the 1960s. From there, he moved onto the city council, where he stayed for eight years and served two terms as mayor.
In 1956, Mr. Frolich began working as an engineer for NASA, where he dealt with flight simulators, wind tunnels and facilities management. He stayed until his retirement in 1989.
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He is survived by his wife, Rosalyn Frolich of Cupertino; son, James of Cologne, Germany; daughter, Jill Frolich Masters of Pollock Pines; mother, Marie of Menlo Park; brother, Gordon of Cupertino; and four grandchildren.
April 17, 1996
Jamie Beckett
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