THEN
“My parents would be so proud to know that Johnny attended W&J.”
NOW
– JOHN E. FRAZIER II ’62
Family Ties Growing up in Washington, Pa., John E. Frazier II ’62, M.D., recalls Washington & Jefferson College greats like Wilbur F. “Pete” Henry ’20 visiting his home. When Frazier began his college search, his father, J. Earl Frazier ’22, gave him and his brother, Thomas G. Frazier ’64, M.D., one piece of advice.
where he visited schools and learned about the country and its people. He also traveled to six different cities in China with Zheya Gai, Ph.D., professor of political science. Returning to Hong Kong after graduation, Johnny will spend a year teaching English and the American culture at Lingnan University.
“He would always say, ‘There’s a great school five blocks away,’” recalled Frazier who, following in his father’s footsteps, enrolled in the College’s pre-medical program in 1958.
While Johnny is just starting his professional career, his father continues to advance his illustrious career in medicine. After receiving his medical degree from Temple University and serving as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, receiving Silver and Bronze stars, Frazier returned to his hometown of Washington to establish Frazier-Hart Cardiovascular. Frazier also was instrumental in establishing the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Open Heart Surgery Program at The Washington Hospital, where he served as Chief of Cardiology for 34 years.
Fifty years later, John found himself giving the same advice to his son, John E. “Johnny” Frazier III ’12. While Frazier and his wife, Nicole, never pushed Johnny to attend W&J, he made sure to remind his son that W&J was a “great school.” Deciding he wanted to travel farther from home, Johnny spent his first semester at Bucknell University; however, fond memories of taking classes at W&J as a high school senior led him to transfer to the College the second semester of his freshman year. Impressed by the close relationships faculty members formed with their students, Johnny was reassured of his choice after receiving an email from Russian professor John Mark Scott ’69, Ph.D. “My first day at W&J, Dr. Scott invited me for a cup of coffee and told me he was my adviser,” said Johnny, who focused his studies on business administration before deciding on a major in English. Though 50 years separate their W&J careers, Frazier echoes his son’s sentiments, recalling the strong connections Dewey Dieter, Ph.D., and Homer Porter ’26, Ph.D., forged with their students. “The close relationships with faculty make W&J very unique compared to a larger institution,” Frazier said. “W&J offers one of the best undergraduate educations, especially with all the current international opportunities.” Taking advantage of those opportunities, Johnny traveled twice with Scott to Ecuador,
Today, as a Trustee of the College, Frazier credits much of his professional and personal success to his alma mater. “W&J gave me the foundation and education to become a doctor,” Frazier said. “In addition, many of my friendships are from W&J, my patients are from W&J, and my daughter’s classmates’ parents are W&J professors.” At Commencement, the family had two events to celebrate: Johnny’s graduation and Frazier’s induction into the Old Guard. “My wife and I were so proud on Johnny’s Commencement day,” Frazier said. “We can see such growth from who he was his freshman year to the man he is today. W&J helped him to grow.” Standing in front of Old Main, dressed in his cap and gown, Johnny said he felt a special closeness to his father and grandfather. “My parents would be so proud to know that Johnny attended W&J,” Frazier said. – KERRI DIGIOVANNI ’09
Johnny Frazier and his father, College Trustee and alumnus John E. Frazier II, share a moment together before the Commencement ceremony. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE
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