Sea Tow mourns loss of founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, a ‘visionary’ who lived to save lives

A community is mourning tonight as news spreads of the passing of Capt. Joseph “Joe” Frohnhoefer, Jr., 71, founder and CEO of Sea Tow International who died at his Southold home after a battle with cancer.

The loss of Frohnhoefer, said Cindy McCaffery, vice president of program development at Sea Tow, is “devastating.”

Reflecting on the man who has given so much to the community, McCaffery said, “We are sad, but we know that he changed many lives.”

In past interviews, Frohnhoefer has said, many times, how the best part of his life was striving to save the lives of others; many who knew and loved him echoed how deeply committed he was to helping mariners in distress.

“He was a good man, and he loved this community,” McCaffery said. “He made an impact on so many lives through his teaching career, his work in the fire department — he really was one of a kind.”

Frohnhoefer, McCaffery said, was “always at the helm,” whether on the boat or at his desk. “He was a pioneer. The towing assistance industry wouldn’t be what it is, without him. All of this started in little old Southold.”

Sea Tow was founded in 1983 by Frohnhoefer, after the U.S Coast Guard stopped responding to non-emergency calls, according to the business’s website. Today, Sea Tow has nearly 100 locations across the United States with additional offices in Europe and the Caribbean.

“He was a visionary, an entrepreneur,” McCaffery said. “He was still working on projects till these last days.”

Devoted to his wife Georgia, his children Kristen and Joseph, and his two grandchildren, Paige and Sam, Frohnhoefer was deeply loved by many in the community, giving back in many ways, including life jacket initiatives and a Stuff a Boat drive during the holiday season to benefit the needy.

Before Sea Tow, Frohnhoefer left a lasting legacy as a member of the fire department, police force, and as a woodshop teacher.

“This is very sad news,” said Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley. “I have known Joe for about 35 years and met him after we attended law enforcement training together, as he worked for the Southold Town Police Department in a seasonal capacity for a short time. Joe’s life obviously changed a lot when he kicked off his Sea Tow International company right here in Southold. Joe always remained a friend of the department, offering his vast resources and assistance over the years. Joe remained very active on several marine law enforcement and security task forces through his business of Sea Tow and always had a presence in local community events. He will be sorely missed in both the boating world and our community. “

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news. “Joe wasn’t just a good friend, he was one of my teachers in high school. He continued to teach me well after I  graduated.   Work hard, give back to the community and always put your family first.”

Services will be handled by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes, Inc. but have not yet been finalized.