We mourn the death of Ernst Frost 

Our joy at the 25th anniversary of the WaterFoundation is mixed with sadness at the sudden death of Ernst Frost, who passed away unexpectedly on February 27, 2025 in his hometown Schäftlarn.

Together with Henner Lang, who died in 2021, Ernst Frost launched the WaterFoundation in 2000. From the outset, Ernst Frost was passionate about recruiting supporters for the “good cause”.

Thanks to Ernst Frost’s infectious enthusiasm, the Dalai Lama and Friedensreich Hundertwasser became supporters and took over the patronage of the foundation. And he was able to inspire celebrities such as Dorris Dörrie and Konstantin Wecker to serve a glass of water at festivals for the foundation and collect donations in the process.

For him, the “good cause” was a functioning water supply for people in underserved regions. This could be achieved through projects that were then still being carried out in many different countries such as Afghanistan, Palestine and Burkina Faso. However, one focus from the outset was Eritrea. The people there were particularly close to Ernst Frost’s heart. He made numerous trips there, from which he always returned full of ideas for new projects.

Until 2018, the trained typesetter and graphic designer was the chairman of the board of the WaterFoundation before moving to the foundation council, from which he retired in August 2024. His sudden death caught the team, the board and the foundation council completely off guard.

“Nothing in life is as difficult for us as saying a final farewell to a person we have come to know and appreciate, with whom we have shared a part of our lives, and to whom we feel personally connected,” says Wolf-Dietrich Pfaelzer, Chairman of the Foundation Board, who has been committed to supporting the development of the foundation since its inception alongside Ernst Frost.

We mourn the loss of Ernst Frost, a visionary with a big heart, and we will continue his work in his spirit with all our might.