Southwest Florida homebuilder dies at 91

The co-founder of a Southwest Florida luxury homebuilding company that has built thousands of residences in the region has died. Milton William “Bill” Frey II died Jan. 23. He was 91.

Frey, who started Frey & Son Homes with his son Barry, is remembered as a scholar, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born near Philadelphia in 1934, he began his career in academia. After earning a Ph.D. in management from Penn State University, he served on the faculties of the business schools at Penn State and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he was also assistant dean.

“He was always somebody who loved a challenge and was looking to tackle the next windmill,” Barry Frey says. “He wanted to see if he could be successful in the business world after teaching it.”

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Once he moved to Florida in 1972, Frey transitioned into the construction industry, launching a series of businesses that have contributed to residential landscapes across the state. First, he started North America Contracting Corp., a company Barry Frey says still exists today. As a resident of Sanibel in 1975, he founded Sanibel Homes, which built several hundred houses on pilings there that helped “define the island’s residential character,” according to a statement. 

In 1985, Frey and Barry, co-founded Frey & Son Homes, a custom homebuilder in Collier and Lee counties. Combined, Frey's companies have built more than 5,200 homes, according to Barry Frey. Among his notable projects are Sea Oats, an 80-unit condo project in Boca Grande, and Island Dunes on Hutchinson Island. 

"At one point, we were selected as America's Best Builder by Builder magazine," Barry Frey says.

“He always believed that you kept your word,” he adds, reflecting on lessons he learned from his father in business. “If you told somebody you were going to do something, you did it.”

Frey also believed in giving back to the community and was recognized for his philanthropy. He was on the board of the Carson Scholars Fund and was recognized in 2009 after providing scholarships for students at 15 Lee County schools, according to the statement.

“He wanted young people to have opportunities for education,” Barry Frey says, noting one of his salespeople’s children was a Carson Scholars Fund recipient. Frey was also on the board of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation (now known as Collaboratory), which named him Lee County Philanthropist of the Year in 2007.

A man of faith, Bill Frey was a member of Sanibel Community Church for almost 50 years. In addition, he was a board member for Logos Ministry, now known as GenOn Ministries, which promotes the importance of intergenerational community.

His philanthropy “stemmed from his strong religious background,” Barry Frey says. “He believed in much of what was taught in the Bible,” including parables about giving that illustrate if “God gives you certain things, he expects that you will help others in return.”

Frey is survived by his wife, Lorraine; his three sons: Eric, Roger and Barry; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris Wenger Frey.