Robert Brost, 88, of Vero Beach, passed away on Jan. 29, 2015, at Willowbrooke Court, ACTS Indian River Estates, in Vero Beach.
He is survived by four sons, Robert F. Jr. (Jill, deceased) of West Amana, Iowa, Gary M. (Willow) of Buffalo, N.Y., Scott W. of Fort Myers, and Todd R. (Susan) of Gaithersburg, Md.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Nancy and his sister Betty Jane Price.
Brost was born on February 6, 1926 in Buffalo, N.Y., to Chester J. Brost and Mabel G. Brost. He grew up in Amherst, N.Y., and graduated from Amherst Central High School. He then attended Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
He left college in 1943 to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific where his ship participated in the invasions of Peliliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was seriously injured at Okinawa and remained in Naval hospitals for 10 months. Upon his honorable discharge he completed his studies at Penn and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Nancy Jane Gibney on Aug. 28, 1948, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Brost joined his father’s Dodge and Plymouth automobile dealership, Brost Motors, Inc. He became the dealership President in 1959 and opened a Chrysler and Plymouth dealership as well as founded Dependable MoPar Auto Parts. He also founded Frontier Leasing Inc. which was one of the nation’s first automobile and truck leasing enterprises. In 1965 he switched franchises to Ford Motor Company as Brost Ford, Inc. In 1976 he sold Brost Ford, Inc. and purchased a MAACO automobile painting franchise.
While in Buffalo, he served as Chairman of the Erie County Cancer Crusade, Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society of Western New York, President of the Dodge Dealers Association, President of AAA, President of the University of Pennsylvania Club of Western New York, President of the Alden Kiwanis Club and President of the Alden Chamber of Commerce. He served on the boards of the Buffalo Auto Dealers Association and the Buffalo YMCA and was a ruling Elder of the Alden Presbyterian Church.
Brost sold his Buffalo business interests in 1978 to move to Hilton Head Island, S.C. There he founded Resort Furniture Leasing, Inc. with his wife Nancy. Together they purchased a large furniture shop combining the enterprises to form The Decorators Unlimited.
He taught business as an adjunct professor for several years at the Hilton Head branch of the Technical College of the Low Country. This led to his being asked to create and manage a business college. He opened the Management Institute of Hilton Head Island and served as Dean for several years. He was a member of SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives), Chairman of the Cancer Crusade and Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society of South Carolina. He was a founding member of the Hilton Head Island Council of the Navy League of the United States, President of the Council, State President of the South Carolina Navy League as well as a National Director of the Navy league. Brost was asked by the Navy to chair the commissioning committee for the cruiser USS Port Royal CG-73 in Savannah, Ga., in July 1994.
He was a member of the Sea Pines Country Club and Sea Pines Racquet Club. He was an active member of the Rotary Club and served two terms as Treasurer. He was President of the Century Club of Hilton Head Island and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hilton Head Hospital. Brost was a life-long member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
In 1998 the Brosts moved to Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. He served as President of the Resident’s Association and was President of the Florida Lifecare Residents Association. He served the Treasure Coast Council of the Navy League as board member and Chaplain.
A Memorial Service will be held in the Carter Family Chapel at Indian River Estates on Feb.28, 2015 at 1 p.m. A military ceremony will take place at Six Oaks Cemetery, Hilton Head Island, S.C., at a later date. Memorial contributions should be made to The ACTS Samaritan Fund c/o ACTS Indian River Estates, 2250 Indian Creek Blvd., W, Vero Beach, FL 32966. IN COELO QUIES EST.
