FROST, Claude Howell - Passed away peacefully on Friday, June 15, 2018 at Bridgepoint Health Centre at the age of 98.
Claude lived his life to the fullest. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Lily Howell, then when orphaned at the age of 5 years, his mothers dear friend Gertrude Frost (Hough) and her husband Arthur GP Frost raised Claude and adopted him in 1930.
He grew up near the Greenhouses at the corner of Concord and Hallam where Arthur and Gertrude ran the family business Arthur J. Frost Ltd. Florist.
He was raised with his much-loved brother Harold (deceased) and sister Hazel (deceased) and by his third mother Florence (Hough). Living on Concord Ave. and delivering flowers over the city he knew every street, biking before he could drive the Florist truck to deliver the flowers.
His first job was with the Toronto Star as a printer before he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a pilot then navigator and was stationed at Coal Harbour in B.C. After the war he went to work for his father in the Florist business.
It was at that time that Claude ran his father Arthur Frosts successful campaign as Alderman in the Toronto Bracondale riding. Claude married the girl of his dreams Glenys (Rose) after courting her when she was living on Centre Island in the summer, and Floral Park. They were married 71 years ago in Toronto, honeymooning on Lake of Bays.
Being the kind of guy to take a chance in life he got a great deal on a car, sold it for a profit and was offered a job at Gorrie's Chevrolet on Gerrard. He was then sent to set up The Golden Mile Chev-Olds Dealership on Eglinton Ave. East and became the general manager until he was offered by General Motors to open his own Dealership in 1966. Claude Frost Motors in Brampton was his baby, and he made it one of the top dealerships in Ontario.
In the car biz he was known as one of the good guys, well thought of, kind, generous, and a hard-working entrepreneur.
During his career he was a member of the Toronto Business Club, Rotary Club of Brampton, the Brampton Business Club, President of the Toronto Automotive Dealers Association 1977/78, and ran the Toronto Auto Show 1978/79. Claude and Glenys loved the game of golf, they belonged to Thornhill Golf Club, Brampton Golf /Club, Deerhurst Highlands Golf Club, and Atlantis Golf Club in West Palm Beach (where he achieved his hole in one). They travelled the world. Many of their trips were with General Motors and later on, still enjoying visiting new countries and making new friends.
He especially enjoyed his fishing trips to the arctic and west coast. They spent many wonderful years wintering in Atlantis, West Palm Beach, and summers, first in Parry Sound, then Lake Joseph, then Lake of Bays. It was on Lake of Bays that Claude and Glenys enjoyed their retirement years in the beautiful home they built, cruising around the lake in one of his beloved boats, enjoying the Huntsville Festival Theatre, and welcoming their many friends for the weekend and their family for the summer.
At the end of a day on the links, Claude would be found sitting on the dock listening to smooth jazz with his ever-present smile on his face enjoying the lovely view of the lake with a Frosty Special in his hand, a boxer dog by his side, reflecting on life, before going on a sunset cruise.
Claude leaves behind his loving wife Glenys (Rose) and his children Judi Frost (Ian Brown), Leslie Frost, Claudia Frost, grandchildren Devon Townsend, Mackenzie Frost-Brown, Kyle Osadchuk, and Cody Osadchuk, his niece Dianne Nichols (Richard) and nephew Jim Frost (Marilyn). Joy Godoy's loving and kind care of Claude for the past 2 years is most appreciated.
Celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the RCYC, 141 St. George St. Toronto. For further details,
Donations for the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook, www.donate.sunnybrook.ca/tribute or call 416-480-4483.
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