Obituary

Paul S. Frommer CDR, USN (ret.) of Alexandria, VA, beloved husband of Liz, father of Joshua (Melissa), Alexandra Schnitzer (Daniel), Samuel (Richard), Leah Bondy (Daniel) and grandfather of Eli and Zachary Schnitzer, and Hadley Bondy, passed away on January 21st, 2023. He was the son of the late Benjamin and Ethel Frommer, and brother of the late Herbert (Eleanor) and late Alan (Judith), his twin.

Paul was born in the Bronx on December 20, 1935, and in 1938 his family moved to Laurelton, Queens. He was an Eagle Scout and graduate of Stuyvesant High School (1953) and Columbia College (1957). He attended college with an NROTC scholarship where he was a member of the Crew team and president of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity (1956-1957).

Post-college, Paul served as the Chief Engineer on the USS Remey (DD-688) and at the Brooklyn Navy Yard before attending the University of California, Berkeley where he received a Masters in American History (1961). He remained an enthusiastic student of American history for the rest of his life.

In 1961, he was recalled to active duty during the “Berlin Wall Call Up” aboard a reserve training ship, the USS Ingersoll (DD 558) at Treasure Island, San Francisco, where he was a Gunnery Officer. Paul continued to advance through the Navy and served in many countries across the world, including combat service in Vietnam, and posts in Japan, England, and Greece. A highlight of his career was serving as the Commanding Officer of the USS Barry (DD 933) from 1973 through 1974. He earned many recognitions during his Naval career including the Distinguished Service Medal, Joint Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with “V”, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal (six stars).

Paul’s final station with the Navy was at the Pentagon. In 1974, he moved to Alexandria, VA, and in the following year he met his downstairs neighbor, Liz Appell. They married in August of 1976. He retired from the Navy in 1979, with the rank of Commander and entered the insurance business, working for Mutual Benefit Life, and became an independent agent in 1984. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant.

Paul was dedicated to community service during his civilian life, including positions as the Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Vice President of the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, President of Agudas Achim Congregation (Alexandria), and President of the Optimist Club of Alexandria. He also served on the board of numerous organizations including Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Gesher Jewish Day School, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. He and Liz were both founders of the Gesher Jewish Day School, now located in Fairfax, VA.

Memorial gifts are suggested for Gesher Jewish Day School or the Agudas Achim Congregation Endowment Fund.