Eric Von Frohlich
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce that Eric Von Frohlich, founder of EVF Performance & CrossFit Upper East Side, has passed away.
Though Eric had not been directly involved with the company for several years, his impact on our staff, the members who knew him, and the Upper East Side fitness community as a whole is unmistakable.
Eric’s passion for fitness led him to accomplish more than could reasonably fit here: impressive physical feats, several certifications, and countless contributions to the industry. But what will always be most impressive, and most vivid in our memories, was his passion for people.
Eric wanted to know you. Whoever you were. Whether or not you agreed with him, he would challenge you, and you would leave having learned something. If not, you would definitely be left with a book recommendation or an article to read later. He was endlessly curious, and he expected the same curiosity from the people around him.
At the same time, Eric had a remarkable way of making people feel welcome. Not necessarily into something exclusive, but into something that felt earned. His sometimes-intense disposition was balanced by a genuine smile, and his jokes became more colorful the more he got to know you. The more you gave, the more he gave back. He was scalable.
That philosophy carried into his approach to fitness. He challenged convention, refined his ideas through thoughtful research, and practiced what he preached, but he also believed fitness should be fun, accessible, and attainable. If you were willing to put in the work, you were welcome. That spirit has been foundational to EVF Performance from the beginning, and it remains so today.
Eric’s legacy lives on through his beautiful family, close friends, and a community of people whose lives he changed in ways that extend far beyond fitness. We are deeply grateful to be one small part of that legacy, and to have the opportunity to continue the conversations, friendships, and pursuits he set in motion through EVF.
We are honored to carry that part of his legacy forward—not just in name, but in practice.
This workout will be dedicated to him
In teams of 2, alternate to complete 5 rounds each of:
400m run
3 barbell complexes*
* 1 barbell complex consists of:
1 deadlift + 1 barbell row + 1 power clean + 1 front squat + 1 push press + 1 back squat + 1 push press
Note: This is one of the first workouts done at EVF, after Eric founded the gym.
No load is prescribed, but it must allow for smooth and fast cycling of the weight. You may scale to DB, in which case the back squat is a substituted with a front rack squat.
Partners alternate full rounds, relay style.
Time cap: "Get it done"
UES strength
Warm Up
2 Rounds
10 Banded Pass Throughs
20 Banded Pull-aparts
10 Pause Bench Dips
Bench Press
5 sets x 6 reps @ 70%-75% of 1RM
Goal: Begin first working set @ 70% of 1RM & increasing weight each set to finish at 75%.
Bench Accessories
3-4 Rounds (20mins)
8/arm Alt. Double DB Bench Press
10/arm Single Arm DB Row (Start with weaker arm)
8 Strict Dips (weighted if possible)
10 Strict Pull-ups