Jerome “Jerry” Frautschi, a longtime Madison businessman and philanthropist who donated millions to build Madison’s Overture Center and contributed generously to numerous local organizations, died Thursday at 94, according to multiple news reports.
“His historic $205 million gift to build Overture Center remains the single largest contribution to the arts in U.S. history and established Madison as a world-class destination for performing and visual arts,” said a statement shared Friday evening by the Overture Center for the Arts’ communications director Shari Gasper.
The statement noted that when the Overture Center marked its 20th anniversary last summer, Frautschi said, “When I made my gift for the development of Overture Center, my vision was to create a world-class arts destination that would become the cultural hub of Madison… its success has exceeded even my most ambitious hopes and expectations.”
Frautschi’s contributions to arts, cultural, educational and other Madison organizations were generous and wide-ranging.
He gave $37.1 million to help fund the Wisconsin History Center, which is currently under construction on the Capitol Square and is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
In November, he donated $4.5 million to Madison College to fund scholarships for students with the most financial need, regardless of background or program of study.
It was the largest non-capital contribution in Madison College Foundation’s history.
Frautschi also gave millions to organizations including One City Schools, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County and its youth workforce center, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras.
“His commitment to giving back and investing in young people will leave a lasting impact on our community for generations to come,” Michael Johnson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, said in a social media post. “Jerry wasn’t just generous with his resources, he was generous with his heart, his time and his spirit.
“He will be deeply missed, but his legacy of kindness and service will continue to live on through the lives he touched.”
Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, released a statement Friday night noting that “The Frautschi family were among the region’s first and finest entrepreneurs, with a history dating to the 1860s. Honoring that tradition, Jerry emerged as an indelible business leader and one of the greatest philanthropists Madison has ever known. His fingerprints will forever remain on the city’s cultural cornerstones.
“We mourn Jerry’s passing and celebrate his unmatched commitment to community. He understood the connection between commerce and culture — that both are necessary to make a living and make a life. The example he set for what it means to believe in a place is one we all should strive for.”
