Remembering Andrea Fraser

“She could light up a room with that smile,” says Graeme Fraser, remembering his younger sister, Andrea. “It seemed she was friends with everyone she met.”

Graeme is right. Andrea made dozens of friends when she came to Waterloo in 1981 to study kinesiology. And when she died suddenly in 1986 from a severe food-allergy reaction, those friends banded together to establish a scholarship honouring her memory. “She was such a vibrant person,” says retired professor Jim Frank, who supervised Andrea’s senior-year research work. “It was so very sad to lose her.”

Andrea was bright, outgoing and athletic and dreamed of studying medicine after completing her kinesiology studies. “She had a profound desire to care for people, combined with the brains and aptitude for anything,” says Graeme. “She would have made an outstanding doctor.”

Graeme and his mother, Shirley, would dearly like to re-connect with Andrea’s Waterloo friends. If you knew Andrea, please drop by the Remembering Andrea Fraser Facebook page to share your memories.

Andrea Fraser at convocation.

Andrea Fraser on beach smiling.

 

The Andrea Fraser Memorial Award was established by classmates and friends in memory of Andrea Fraser (BSc '86, Kinesiology). It is presented to third- or fourth-year Kinesiology students who hold a minimum 75 per cent average, show a special interest in rehabilitation and are widely involved in class and athletic endeavours.

Contributions are welcome — please email health.advancement@uwaterloo.ca. Thank you!