Al Froderberg, interim WWU president, dies at 80

Albert “Al” Froderberg, the mathematics professor who rose in the administrative ranks at Western Washington University, is being remembered for his steadying performance when he suddenly became campus president after G. Robert Ross died in a plane crash in 1987.

“It was a traumatic experience for the university,” recalled Ken Mortimer, who became president of Western after Froderberg’s 10 months as interim president. “He was the right man at the right place.”

Froderberg died peacefully at his Bellingham home on Oct. 22, 2015. He was 80 years old. No funeral or memorial service is planned, but people are encouraged to donate to a scholarship fund in his honor.

Colleagues described Froderberg as trustworthy and straightforward, a good storyteller and a good friend with a hearty laugh.

“He was as honest as the day was long,” Mortimer said, “and had a droll sense of humor.”

Born and raised in Seattle, Froderberg earned his doctorate in mathematics at the University of Washington. He began teaching at Western in 1968. After serving as president of the faculty senate, he joined Ross’ administration in 1984 as the president’s assistant for state government affairs.

Froderberg was the university’s lobbyist in Olympia, given the task of persuading the Legislature to support Western’s financial needs. Froderberg’s low-key, honest approach, along with accurate information, won praise from lawmakers.

“Everyone trusted him, which was a good thing for Western,” said Tim Douglas, a former WWU administrator and former Bellingham mayor.

In November 1987, soon after becoming acting provost, Froderberg suddenly had to step in as president when President Ross’ plane crashed at night about six miles northwest of Bellingham International Airport. The crash killed Ross, two campus vice presidents and the pilot.

“Few organizations, corporate, academic, or otherwise, have suffered the kind of loss of leadership that Western did and recovered so well,” said Craig Cole, the Bellingham businessman who was vice chairman of Western’s board of trustees at the time. “It is in no small part due to Al Froderberg’s thoughtful and calming leadership.”

In 2000, when Froderberg shed most of his campus duties to become director of planned giving for Western Foundation, he recalled that his months as interim president were among the hardest and the easiest of his career.

“It was hard to lose three good friends,” he said. “On the other hand, everyone was pulling together. Everyone cut some slack for everyone else.”

Froderberg retired in 2009, but the rapport he developed with potential donors to Western continue to bear fruit in the form of major donations and good community relations, Douglas said.

“He had an uncanny way of being able to deal with people that came out the best,” Douglas said.

As Mortimer put it, “People trusted him. And that’s rare in today’s world.”

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Al Froderberg, interim WWU president, dies at 80."