Robert Frisch

Robert Donald Frisch died peacefully in his sleep June 29, concluding a remarkable life of family, work and accomplishments. Perhaps most impressive, he never allowed being a quadriplegic to define him or prevent him from living with optimism, sharing his love and wisdom with those closest to him, working to achieve his life's goals, or being a great dad.
   Bob was born in West Point, Nebraska, February 8, 1954, to Donald and Shirley Frisch. The family moved to Boise in 1958 and has essentially lived in the North end of the city ever since. The second born of what would be a family of six children, Bob excelled at sports in grade school, high school, and college. Bob attended St. Mary’s Grade School, Bishop Kelly High School for one year, and America’s Finest High School, Boise High, for three years.
   Bob married the former Darla Brown August 19, 1976, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They had three children, Anthony (42), Curtis (41), and Gara (38). Bob was a sixth-grade teacher and coach at St. Mary’s Grade School for five years and then began a long and successful career with Albertson’s, ultimately managing several different Albertsons stores in Boise, including its Maxx Warehouse Store, before working in California, Colorado, and the Boise corporate office for the company.
   He wanted mostly to be a good husband and father. He was able to spend more time with his children because of Darla’s devotion to his health after his March 1995, car accident that left him a quadriplegic. He was driving his mother home from a funeral for her uncle in rural Nebraska when they hit black ice. He never, ever complained. Darla was always there and knew often better than the medical professionals how to care for Bob or how to treat one of his subsequent health episodes. She has been nothing short of a selfless, miracle worker, and the reason Bob had such a long life as a quad.
   Bob did not want to be remembered as a quadriplegic, however. He wanted to be remembered as a good friend and someone who could be counted on. He was indeed that. He was vice president of his senior class at Boise High, where he played varsity football and basketball for two years and varsity baseball for three years. He was the leader of the Boise High Basketball team that won the Southern Idaho Conference Regional Tournament in 1972. He had an impressive baseline jump shot that had a beautiful teardrop arc, which was weird for a kid who grew up playing basketball in the St. Mary’s Grade School gym. He was a skilled infielder, mostly shortstop, for the Boise High Baseball and American Legion Gems Baseball teams that won many tournaments. He developed life-long friends from his time playing college baseball at Barstow Junior College and then at Azusa Pacific.
   He was a caring coach to kids at St. Mary’s, his kids, neighborhood kids, those on city rec sports team, siblings, even teammates on his rec teams. His players knew him to be helpful, thoughtful, and a fighter for their best interest. In sports and in life, Bob only fought for others, never himself.
   He was a thoughtful card player amusing his father and siblings with his ability to evaluate the outcome of every single, possible play, which he would do in a somewhat timely fashion. We miss you so much Bob; we will forever miss you! Hope you and Dad are playing plenty of pitch. You really do now have all the time in the world to work through every, single possible scenario!
   Bob is survived by his wife, Darla (Brown) Frisch, sons Tony (Flor) and Curt (Christy) and daughter Gara, who all live in Denver, Colorado; his mother, Shirley Frisch, sisters Marde Shawver and Susan Karpen and brothers Rick, Randy, and Kurt, and nine grandchildren.