Senor was an icon at WRA and his class was a formative experience for me during the prep years. Authentically himself he applied "tough love" to our Spanish II class - and memories of those days will always stay with me. Many laughs and a few tears! Haha. Cheers to Senor - one of the greats! 

I was a sort of troubled teenager and did not exactly feel like one of the guys and sometimes felt uncared for and left out while attending WRA.

In a well-intentioned effort to make me feel like one of the guys some of the more considerate guys decided they would throw me into the hockey pond.

I did not react as well as my friends had hoped and began to cry. This unfortunately embarrassed everyone involved and all were ashamed that they had been involved in this fiasco.

It is said that hindsight is 20 20. I can look back on the experience now and realize that I was indeed cared for.

This was probably one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life.

I was Senor Jim Fraser who followed me crying into the locker room and did his best to comfort me. I was unconsolable and could not be comforted.

As bad as I felt, Senor felt just as bad and kept repeating over and over again that he was sorry for my teammate's behavior and felt responsible. He felt just as awkward as I did. He simply repeated this over and over again until I managed to choke out through the tears that I would get over it and he should not worry about me.

He finally left, but I could tell he really did not want to leave until I had recovered and felt better. He was that kind of a guy.

I got over my awkward teenage years for the most part. But I still remember Senor and his genuine concern and feelings of responsibility for me in a really awkward time. What a guy!

Valle (sp?) con dios, Senor!

Senor Fraser was one of a kind!

A great teacher, mentor and friend. Senor Fraser will live on in our hearts. 

Very sad to hear about Senor's passing, but it was great to read about his life here. I didn't know about his illustrious history as a runner!

I was lucky enough to have Senor as my advisor at Reserve and took 3 years of Spanish with him as well. I always loved his classes and our advisory sit-down lunches. One funny story that I always tell about Senor was from my junior year - I had last period Spanish, but I had a doctor's appointment off-campus in the afternoon, around 1PM or so. I told Senor that I would likely be missing the class due to my appointment, but then my appointment ended slightly early and I got back to campus around 2:15. I figured, I'd already told Senor I would miss class anyways, so I booted up some video games with my friends and decided I'd play until sports practice started up. But then, sure enough, I get a phone call from Senor, right in the middle of class. He did his classic "Hola Jose" greeting in his booming voice, wouldn't let me respond to him in English, and asked me where I was. Of course I had to say that I was still on my way back, and he told me that once I was back on campus I should come straight to class, not to worry about getting into school dress or anything like that. So I waited in my dorm room for another 10 minutes and then showed up for the end of class. I've always felt like he just somehow knew that I was pulling a fast one on him and he couldn't let it slide.

I appreciate everything he gave to me and to countless other students throughout the years and I'll make sure to pass his memory down as best I can. Much love and my condolences to his family.

Truly an end of an era. I had not connected with Senor in a long time but the news of his passing brought back many wonderful memories of my time at Reserve 20+ years ago. Best wishes to his entire family!

Senor Fraser was an awesome teacher who made class fun even though he was tough on us. We had great laughs and great friendships with classmates were born out of his classes. I was lucky enough to speak about him in 2014 as commencement speaker for WRA, which was the year he retired and poke fun, but also appreciation for who he was. I'm grateful for it all and he will be sadly missed! To see my comments about him, click here and scroll to 3min25 sec on the video:  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdWh_SFhTIc   

You will be dearly missed. Muchas gracias Senor! Rest in peace, Menna

Quite sad news indeed, the passing of a true legend. Senor Fraser inspired my learning and love of Spanish. He delighted in my spending my entire Junior year at Georgetown abroad and my becoming fluent in Spanish. We corresponded in the language and bantered in person during my many reunion visits. I used Spanish during my working years and now as a volunteer in retirement and I have thought of Jim often as a result.

Que vive la memoria de Senor Fraser!

I was a 'first gen' student when I was recruited to WRA.  Señor was one of my main contacts prior to enrollment.  My introduction to Reserve in 1977 was Fall Cross Country camp - prior to the beginning of the school year.  I was afraid and ill prepared for my life change.   Jim and Molly became by family and stayed that way for my three years at WRA.  I fondly remember Molly, Elizabeth, Michael and Bert - and the white Mercedes following me on my early morning runs.  Thank you for being a part of making me who I became.  I think of the Fraser family often. 

Senor touched the lives of SO many in so many meaningful ways. There are literally thousands of us who were positively molded into accomplished individuals, in large part by him. 

Hasta la vista, Senor!

He was one  of the many reasons my children loved WRA. Senor gave tough love to his students , with a little sarcasm on the side. His teachings were "old school," which is missing  in today's world. He taught his students confidence , work ethic , and most of all respect.  He was know for his infamous attire which my son. Nick, respectively mimicked for Halloween. He was loved dearly by our family and will forever leave a footprint in our hearts❤️

I knew coach Fraser at Reserve through the track team, in the late ‘60s. 

I recall his first year there, he lined up in the outside lane in the 100yd dash in a JV meet. I wondered what was going on. Then the gun went off and—BOOM!— off he went like he was shot out of a cannon. Wow! Not sure, but I think he ran about 9.9. 

Like many students, I wished I took Spanish, because I wanted to be in his class. He was one of those masters whose approval you wanted. (And, like many students, I had an unquenchable crush on Molly.) 

I can’t say it in Spanish, so…Ave atque vale. 

My condolences🙏🏾 Much love  -fred steen

Sad sad day for me; to see him was one of the main reasons I came back for reunions. I would add one minor anecdote to the well-written bio; one thing I believe many would be surprised at: my freshman year he taught Russian (to those of us crazy enough to take it on) in the form of an “after school” activity. He was exacting as ever; thanks to those lessons, I learned the cyrillic alphabet. That was my first exposure to Mr. Fraser. He also got me out skating for the first time on the frozen pond. My 2 years of Spanish with Señor (junior & senior years) gave me the solid foundation which stood me well during 15 years working in Madrid. I’m definitely not the only one with fond and lasting sentiments. I’ll remember him always.

Bob Slutz ‘74

The Man, the Myth, the Legend. I'm honored to have known Senor during a portion of his 50-year reign. He pushed students to be their best. Nobody was tougher, but nobody made me laugh harder. While the rest of school had practice cancelled due to torrential lightning storms, no-excuses-Senor, smuggled the rest of us out past the Athletic Director in a van to drive to the mountainous hills of Kendall National Park for cross country practice. If athletes complained of minor bogus injuries, he told them to run backwards. When I failed a Spanish quiz, he loudly announced "bad news" in front of the rest of the class as he handed me my results with a smirk.  Yet somehow almost everyone who looks back on their years with Senor does so with the highest respect and admiration. He pushed people to be their best and you always knew behind the tough no-nonsense exterior was a man with the largest of hearts. Somehow as you were on the last lap of a grueling workout and felt you were ready to collapse, when he gave you that sarcastic quip harassing how slow you were running, you had to chuckle under your breath through the pain and exhaustion. It made you put things into perspective and question any doubt you might have had in your head that questioned "Can I really do this?" With a ballpark estimate of at least 100 students and athletes influenced each year for 50 years, Senor has easily molded the lives of thousands of individuals. I was glad to have kept in touch with Senor after graduation. He welcomed me down to Peru years later on a transformational spiritual trip to Machu Picchu that played a role in preparing me to meet my future wife. A 21-gun salute to one of the GOATs. Hasta la proxima Senor

So sorry to hear of the loss of Senor. I have many wonderful memories of him as a colleague and campus legend during my time working at WRA. He was one of a kind!