Funeral Arrangements Set for Ron Fraser
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Funeral arrangements for Ron Fraser, nicknamed the “Wizard of College Baseball”, who guided the Miami Hurricanes baseball program for 30 seasons, have been set by the Fraser family.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 27 at Stanfill Funeral Homes in Miami (10545 S. Dixie Highway). A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Mon., Jan. 28 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Southwest Ranches (5601 S. Flamingo Road).
The burial will be private for the Fraser Family in Ron’s hometown of Nutley, N.J.
“A Celebration of the Life of Ron Fraser” will be held Sat., Feb. 23 on the University of Miami campus. Details will be announced at a later date. The Fraser Family be in attendance and will receive friends following the program. Afterwards, the celebration will move to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field for Miami’s baseball game against Milwaukee. The game has been designated as the “Remembering Ron Fraser” game, with game proceeds donated to the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund.
Fraser, who led the Hurricanes to the 1982 and 1985 College World Series titles, coached Miami from 1963-92, amassing a 1,271-438-9 record and ended his career as the third-winningest coach in NCAA history. He was the NCAA Coach of the Year four times while at the helm at ‘The U’. He was named World Amateur Coach of the Year for leading the U.S. to its only World Amateur Championship in 1973.
Fraser led Miami to 20 consecutive NCAA Regional berths and 12 College World Series appearances. More than 100 of his former players went on to play professionally in Major League Baseball. In 1990, he was named “Coach of the Decade” for the 1980s by Collegiate Baseball. Fraser also enjoyed international success in leading the U.S. National Team to a Silver Medal at the 1971 and 1987 Pan American Games. He also served as head coach of the first U.S. Olympic baseball team in 1992. He led the Netherlands to three European Baseball Championships in 1960, 1962 and 1973. He is a member of 10 different halls of fame, including both the University of Miami and Florida State.
RON FRASER WIZARD FUND
In lieu of flowers, the Fraser Family has requested that contributions be made to the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund.
Established by the University of Miami in recognition of his lifetime of accomplishments and a distinguished legacy of helping others, the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund will honor the Hall of Fame coach with a bronze statue to be placed at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, and help maintain the Hurricane Baseball program as the nation’s finest.
Friends and fans of the man nicknamed “The Wizard of College Baseball” can make contributions to the Ron Fraser Wizard Fund by clicking here. All gifts are tax-deductible. For more information or to make a donation by check, contact Rick Remmert, UM’s Director of Alumni Programs, at 305-284-9517, or by e-mail at r.remmert@miami.edu.
