A Phenomenal Philanthropist

Frautschi has enriched the lives of countless Madison residents and UW–Madison students.

Jerome “Jerry” Frautschi ’56, who died in January, was a giant in a family of giants in terms of contributions to the UW and its surrounding community. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, Frautschi returned to Madison and joined the family’s printing business, Webcrafters, which he ran alongside his brother, John Frautschi, for 42 years. Jerry’s father, Walter Frautschi 1924, had been prominent in UW and civic concerns, serving as president of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and as a leader for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) for decades.

Jerry followed in his footsteps. 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, Jerry gave nearly $17 million to the UW–Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve to build the Frautschi Center, a visitor building at the entrance to Picnic Point that is slated to open later this year.

“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,” says UW–Madison chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. “Many more will soon experience the Frautschi Center when it opens as a brand-new front door to these cherished spaces.”

Jerry Frautschi’s most transformative contribution came in 1998, when he gave a landmark $205 million to build Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts. Designed by renowned architect César Pelli, the Overture Center spans an entire city block and includes a 2,100-seat concert hall, a restored 1927 theater, a theater-in-the-round, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (see “State Street, That Great Street”).

Frautschi continued to invest in the UW’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 in 2019.

Frautschi was joined in his philanthropy by his wife, Pleasant Rowland, founder of the American Girl brand. Their vision has left an indelible mark on Madison, enriching the lives of countless residents, students, and visitors.

Published in the Spring 2026 issue