Jack Frisch, 84, Green Bay, passed away Tuesday April 30, 2013. Born in Black River Falls on January 30, 1929, he is the son of the late Jack and Marion (Galston) Frisch. Jack graduated from West High School the class of 47’. After graduation he got on the Caboose of the Green Bay and Western Railroad as far as he could before he hitchhiked his way to New York. Jack served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1948-1952, and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. He married the Rachel Van Den Heuval on April 8, 1956, in Yonkers, NY.
Jack is a graduate of UW- Madison, where he received degrees through the doctorate. He joined the UW System faculty in 1958 at the UW-Fox Valley Center, taught at UW-Madison while pursing his Ph.D., and came to the UW Center- Green Bay faculty in 1962. When the center became a four-year institution in 1968, Jack was appointed the first chair person of the UW-Green Bay theatre program.
During his teaching career, Jack has taught the full array of courses in theatre production and dramatic literature as well as courses in interpersonal communication and festivals and games, during which he introduced this area to the earth ball and other non-competitive “ new games.” His teaching also included courses in the American Indian Studies program at UW-Green Bay.
Long an advocate of a creative approach to tasks and to ensemble performance in group theatre, Jack in 1972 served as a workshop leader at an international symposium on new methods in educational drama held in the Netherlands. He also led workshops at Princeton University, American University in Washington D.C., and the University of California-Berkley. As a recognized Samuel Beckett scholar, he was invited to present a paper at the 1991, Beckett Symposium in Monaco.
Jack is known for his interest in avant-garde and experimental theatre. Over his career he has directed more than 100 plays in campus and community theatre productions, most for UW- Green Bay, Harlequin Players or Green Bay Community Theatre.
Jack was always involved in ecology and fought against discrimination. Many of his plays reflected this (Seven Arrows, People All Around).
His was a full life; always learning and with curiosity and dedication to whatever he was doing. As a child and adult he enjoyed his Tank Park and school affiliation. He had broad interests such as flying, astronomy, trumpet, baseball, and bicycling to the YMCA. He loved his family with the same intensity. Summers were spent with the entire family exploring the continental U.S.
Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rachel; three children, Paul (Miriam) Frisch of Rochester Hills, MI, Rae Ann Frisch of Green Bay, and James (Cheryl) Frisch Yukon, OK; seven grandchildren, Michael, Adam, Joel, Zachary, Brittany (Jacob), Jessica, and Levi; one sister, Sally (Gerald) Proctor and one sister-in-law, Mary Maus; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Donald (Roberta “Doodles”) Frisch, and one infant grandson, Samuel.
Visitation at MALCORE (East) Funeral Home University Ave at Baird St Saturday, May 4, from 9:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 AM.
Bachelor of Arts, Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1957
Master of Arts, Theater and Speech, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1959
Post-graduate work at Stanford University
Doctorate, Theater and Speech, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1965
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the third floor Aurora Baycare Medical Center and Dr. Raul Mendoza.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials can be sent to the UW-Green Bay Scholarship Fund in memory of Jack Frisch: Cofrin Library 805,2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001