Caltech Mourns the Passing of Trustee Camilla Chandler Frost (1925–2024)

Camilla Chandler Frost, a life member of the Caltech community, passed away on February 7, 2024. She was 98 years old.

An advocate of the environment and art, Frost was appointed to the Caltech Board of Trustees in 1977 and was elected a life member of the Caltech community in 2007. During her active involvement with the Board, she served as a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Nominating Committee.

"Camilla Frost's passion and commitment shaped the landscape of science and art in Southern California," says David Lee (PhD '74), Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees. "At Caltech, her leadership benefitted our scholars at all levels and enhanced the institution's ability to work at the leading edge of the biological and geological sciences."

Frost was born May 11, 1925, in Los Angeles. She received her BA in zoology from Wellesley College in 1947, an experience she has said was one of the most formative influences in her life. She worked as treasurer and director of Chandis Securities Company, and as director of Security Pacific Bank and SCEcorp.

Frost was the granddaughter of Harry Chandler and daughter of Norman Chandler, both of whom were also longtime Trustees of the Institute. Over the years, the Chandler family's philanthropy has supported the Norman Chandler Professorship of Cell Biology, the Norman Chandler Professorship of Chemical Biology, the Chandler Family Professorship of Geology, the Norman Chandler Scholarship Fund, the Norman Chandler Memorial Laboratory in Braun Labs, and the Camilla Chandler Frost Laboratories in the Broad Center for the Biological Sciences. Frost also served as co-chair of Caltech's Biological Sciences Initiative.

Frost was also a trustee emeritus of Wellesley College, a life trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a trustee emeritus of the Nature Conservancy, and a trustee of the Chandler Trusts, among other philanthropic positions.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sherry Spear, and is survived by her sons, Chandler Spear and Alexander (Elena) Spear.