Obituary of Charles Edward Frohman

Charles Edward Frohman PhD, 85, of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., died Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, at Bon Secours Hospital, Grosse Pointe, Mich. He was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Columbus, Ind., son of Charles (Ike) and Annabelle Frohman. Dr. Frohman was a biochemist who did research on the causes of and potential cure for schizophrenia at the Lafayette Clinic in Detroit for more than 30 years. He retired in 1986. Dr. Frohman graduated from Columbus High School at the age of 16 in 1938. He attended Indiana University, but left school in 1941 because of World War II. He enlisted in 1943 and was a medical technician attached to Gen. George Patton’s Third Army Headquarters during the invasion of Europe. He left the Army in December 1945, and returned to school at Indiana University, where he earned his master of arts in chemistry in 1948. He earned his doctorate at Wayne State University in 1951. Dr. Frohman married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Sisson, in 1946. The two met at church camp when he was 15 years old. They raised four children, two of whom followed their father to earn doctorates. Dr. Frohman was an avid bridge player, a grower of prize-winning roses and a world traveler. He circled the globe in 1988, and visited all continents except Antarctica. He was in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; three children, Elsa Frohman of Eastpointe, Mich., Charles D. Frohman of Iowa City, Iowa, and Thomas Frohman of Troy, Mich.; and one grandchild, David I. Frohman of Iowa City. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mary A. Frohman, in 2005. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15251 Harper Ave., Detroit, Michigan. A visition hour will be followed by shared remembrances. The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the chemistry department at Indiana University.