Jackie (Jack) L. Frazier: June 5, 1931 – February 17, 2023
One of the things you discover as you age is you find yourself losing those who have brought something special to your life. Jackie (Jack) Lafayette Frazier, long time valley architect, partner at Juster Pope Frazier, mentor, and friend, was one of those people.
Jack grew up in Granite Falls, a small mill town in the western hills of North Carolina. The son of a telegraph operator, he left home to join the Navy shortly after receiving his draft notice during the Korean War. Always the practical man, Jack wisely chose a life at sea rather than slogging through the mud in the infantry. This eventually led to a posting as a naval attaché in the code room of the US embassy Paris in the mid 1950’s. While living the life of an American in Paris, he met his wife and lifelong partner Nancy.
After completing his career in the Navy, Jack and Nancy settled in New York where he attended Pratt Institute and begin his architectural career.
Moving to the Pioneer Valley in the early 1960’s, he and many other well-known local architects passed through Jim Britton’s office in Greenfield, then to Drummey Rosane Anderson’s Amherst office, before moving into private practice. Eventually he joined the Shelburne Falls office of Earl Pope and Norton Juster in what was to soon become Juster Pope Frazier.
I joined Norton, Earl, and Jack in the mid 1980’s. I needed a job and they needed someone who could put lines to paper. Being a fellow southerner, I immediately found myself gravitating to Jack as we shared both a familiar manner of speaking and a love for hush puppies and Carolina style barbeque. Always kind, wise, and generous with his knowledge, Jack was the perfect mentor. I was of that younger generation that was quickly exchanging our triangles, parallel bars, and HB pencils for computer screens, but Jack was never phased as technology was changing our profession. As he was quick to point out, it’s not so much about how you do something, but what you do, and whatever Jack did, he did with an extra helping of integrity, grace, professionalism, and most importantly, élan.
By the early 2000’s, Norton Juster had long since retired and it was clear that Jack and Earl Pope would soon follow; it was time for me to move on. Some years later I was helping someone in my current office sort through a series of technical design issues. She suddenly looked at me and said, “How do you know all this stuff?” Somewhat taken aback by her question, my response was simple, someone had taken the time to teach me and pass on their knowledge. That someone, more often than not, was Jack Frazier. In that moment, I realized how lucky I had been. Jack was a friend, a kind gentleman, and a true professional, with a wealth of knowledge and a wiliness to pass it along to the next generation. In short, traits I hope we all aspire to.
Of course, his willingness to share his wonderful homemade barbeque didn’t hurt either. I miss him.
– Liv Wyatt Assoc. AIA
Donations in Jackie’s honor can be made to Dakin Humane Society.
Read the formal obituary on Legacy.com
