SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The close-knit Santa Clara Athletics community lost one of its own last month with the passing of men's water polo player Julian Fraser.
A two-year member of the program, Fraser was diagnosed with cancer last spring.
The University is holding a memorial service at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Mission Church to celebrate the life of Fraser. A reception will follow in Alumni Park, which is located adjacent to Leavey Center. Click here for a campus map.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Julian and his family at this unimaginable time of grief," Santa Clara director of athletics Renee Baumgartner said. "Julian was an incredible Bronco who was extremely well-liked by the campus community, and his spirit will always be with us. Our focus now is to support his family and teammates during this difficult time."
Fraser, a native of Greenwich, Connecticut, redshirted as a true freshman in 2014, but was a key cog for the team the following season, playing in all 33 games, including 25 starts from his driver position. He ranked fifth on the team in goals (26), fifth in assists (20), and third in steals (22).
Fraser, 20, was not only a vital contributor in the pool, but also successful in the classroom. He earned 2015 All-Academic honors from both the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC).
"Julian was an exceptional young man who was a talented water polo player on track to have a great collegiate career," Santa Clara head water polo coach Keith Wilbur said. "He had a quiet strength, a quick wit and a way of putting everyone around him at ease. He was much beloved by his teammates and really everyone who knew him. He will be in our hearts and minds forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
Fraser, who was pursuing degrees in economics and political science, is survived by his parents, Alexander and Cristiana Fraser, as well as has two older brothers, Andrew and Matthew.
To make a gift in in the name of Julian Fraser, please direct your giving to the vital and ongoing cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Visit https://giving.mskcc.org
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