WSU coworkers: James Frasure was a family man, sports fan
July 2, 2014
Whether he was serving food to hungry Cougar sports fans or cheering for his kids at their basketball games, people often counted on James “Jim” Frasure.
Frasure, 43, was found dead June 23 near his office in Beasley Coliseum. He had worked since 2010 as the associate manager of Concessions for WSU Dining Services. A coroner’s report revealed he had suffered complications of heart disease and diabetes.
“He was a very hard worker, but more than that he was a family man,” said Dining Services Director Gary Coyle, who worked with Frasure at the University of Idaho before both of them moved on to WSU. “Jim always found a way to be at his children’s athletic events and loved when he had the opportunity to coach or act as an assistant coach for the teams his children played on.”
A lifelong sports fan and longtime food service worker, Frasure combined his passions by serving food at WSU sporting events.
“He loved working the games,” said Concessions General Manager Balram Pande, who shared an office with Frasure for four years. “Whether it be baseball games, football games, women’s basketball games, anything. He was willing to do whatever it took.”
Coyle highlighted Frasure’s immense baseball card collection, which he guessed contains hundreds of thousands of cards.
Jacqui Lacroix, an associate manager of Dining Services, said Frasure spoke often and highly of his wife and children. Lacroix worked with him at Flix Café and Market near the south end of campus before he began working at sporting events.
“His sudden death is a tragic reminder that every day is important and should be lived to the fullest,” she said. “That’s what I think he would want people to remember.”
Coyle added: “Jim was a valued employee and individual as he gave each moment of his life his total commitment.”
A memorial service will take place July 2 at the Genesee Community Church in Genesee, Idaho, where Frasure lived since 1994. The family has asked that donations be sent to the American Diabetes Association or to the American Heart Association.
