The UW–Madison community mourns a beloved multigenerational Badger, W. Jerome “Jerry” Frautschi ’56, who died on January 8 at age 94.
Born into a family whose roots in Madison, Wisconsin, date back to 1867, Frautschi carried forward a tradition of service and stewardship begun by his great-grandfather Christian Frautschi, a Swiss immigrant and cabinetmaker, and carried on by Jerry’s father, Walter Frautschi ’24, who was prominent on the UW campus in his time.
After attending Fountain Valley School in Colorado and briefly enrolling at the University of Virginia, Jerry returned home to become a Badger. He graduated from UW–Madison in 1956 and served in the Navy during the Korean War. Jerry joined the family’s printing business, Webcrafters, which he ran alongside his brother, John, for 42 years.
Among Jerry’s many gifts to the campus community, one of the most cherished is Frautschi Point —
formerly Second Point on Lake Mendota — which he and John donated to the UW in the late 1980s. This 17-acre parcel, with 1,600 feet of shoreline, was preserved in its natural state, extending the Lakeshore Path and protecting a vital piece of Madison’s landscape. In recent years, he gave nearly $17 million to the UW–Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve to build the Frautschi Center, a visitor center at the entrance to Picnic Point.
“Thanks to his vision and foresight, tens of thousands of Badgers and Madisonians have enjoyed the beauty of the iconic Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Picnic Point, and Frautschi Point,” said UW–Madison’s chancellor, Jennifer L. Mnookin. “Many more will soon experience the Frautschi Center when it opens as a brand-new front door to these cherished spaces.”
Frautschi’s most transformative contribution came in response to the decline of downtown Madison in the 1970s and 1980s. Inspired by the restoration of the state capitol and the construction of Monona Terrace, Jerry envisioned a cultural revival. In 1998, he gave a landmark $205 million contribution — one of the largest gifts ever made to the arts by a single donor — to build the Overture Center for the Arts. Designed by renowned architect César Pelli, the Overture Center spans an entire city block. It includes a 2,100-seat concert hall, a restored 1927 theater, a theater-in-the-round, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The rotunda bears an inscription reflecting Jerry’s humility and love for his hometown: “Overture Center, my gift to Madison, continues the tradition of civic pride and responsibility that my family has honored since 1867. It is given in appreciation of the good life Madison has given us.”
Jerry continued to invest in UW–Madison’s future. A generous contribution helped create Alumni Park, which opened in fall 2017. This celebratory space shares the story of what it means to be a Badger through inspiring sculptures, inscriptions, statues, and a striking fountain. He was also an avid supporter of the Hamel Music Center, which opened its doors to the public in fall 2019. Jerry is survived by his wife, Pleasant Rowland, fellow philanthropist and founder of the American Girl brand, and by his children and grandchildren, who carry on the Frautschi legacy of service and benevolence.
Jerry Frautschi’s life was a testament to the power of civic engagement and the enduring impact of thoughtful philanthropy. His vision and generosity have left an indelible mark on Madison, enriching the lives of countless residents, students, and visitors. He will be long remembered and deeply missed.
