The Lasting Influence & Legacy of A. Jon Frere, Hon. ’74

When Jon Frere arrived at Blair Academy in September 1966, he came with a master’s degree in Spanish from Middlebury College and an infectious enthusiasm that quickly became part of everyday life. Hired as a language teacher, dormitory advisor and assistant coach, Jon immediately stepped into the rhythm of campus, becoming both a trusted mentor to students and friend to colleagues.

Alongside his wife, Penny, whom he met while studying abroad in Madrid and who became a cherished Blair faculty member in her own right, Jon built a life centered on a shared passion for learning and community. In 1970, when Jon was appointed head football coach and Director of Athletics and Physical Education, he did far more than manage schedules and facilities. He built the foundation for the culture of Blair athletics that still exists today.

“As a coach, he demanded the best of each player,” reflects Skip Waddell ’73. “Coach Frere knew when and how to motivate a player to raise his level of performance, without doing so in a demeaning manner, and when to praise the individual at the appropriate time. Even in the midst of a game, Coach Frere knew when to use levity to inspire the team to raise its level of performance.”

Jon was a visionary who saw the complete potential of every student. Under his leadership, Blair expanded its athletic footprint: He was instrumental in introducing female athletics to the School during a decade of pivotal change, ensuring young women had equal opportunity to compete and excel. Jon personally established Blair’s lacrosse program on campus, cementing a sport that remains a highlight of hilltop athletics today.

For those he coached and taught, Jon’s impact extended far beyond winning seasons at a consequential time in their young lives.

“When Jon had faith in you, it somehow made you believe in yourself in ways you never would have on your own,” remembers Laura Cochran Morris ’75. “His influence reached so far beyond athletics. The lessons he taught me, the confidence he gave me and the example he set have stayed with me throughout my life.”

When Jon left Blair in 1984 to serve as assistant head of school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, and later as head of school at The Webb School in Tennessee from 1989 until his retirement in 2005, he carried Blair’s values with him. And on the hilltop, Jon left behind a legacy that continued long after the Freres’ departure.

“I think I’m one of the few athletes, if not the only one, to both play and work for Coach Frere,” reflects John Finelli ’74. “During my 41 years of teaching and coaching, I always felt that Blair Academy was in everything I did. As I got older, and somewhat wiser, I realized it was the lessons of Coach Frere in everything I did.”

Adopted as an honorary member of the Class of 1974 and inducted into the Blair Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, Jon remained profoundly connected to the hilltop. He proudly supported the Blair Fund and returned regularly to visit old friends and speak to students at the Society of Skeptics.

His dedication to service extended well into his retirement. Jon continued mentoring educators across the globe and leading international faculty workshops. In his local Tennessee community, his deep empathy and fluency in Spanish led him to advocate for Spanish-speaking residents, helping many families gain essential healthcare access. Whether he was playing golf, creating pottery, listening to music or traveling the world with Penny, Jon lived with an open heart.

Endowing a Dream: The A. Jon Frere Scholarship

Following Jon’s passing this spring, the outpouring of grief and gratitude from generations of alumni made one thing abundantly clear: Jon Frere’s impact is enduring, but his story is not finished.

As longtime friend and Blair colleague, Mike Brennan P’94 ’95 ’99, noted: “I had the privilege of knowing Jon for more than 55 years, and his wisdom, kindness and counsel enriched my life in countless ways. Since his death, many members of the Blair community have reached out with one common question: How can we honor Jon and Penny’s remarkable legacy?”

In 1994, Jon and Penny laid the foundation for that answer by establishing the A. Jon Frere Scholarship. Designed to support students in good academic standing whose broad involvement enriches Blair’s academic, athletic and extracurricular programs, the scholarship embodies the qualities Jon spent his lifetime cultivating: character, effort, leadership and spirit.

To fulfill the vision Jon and Penny began 30 years ago, members of the Blair community—led by Mike, David Lieberman ’74 and Harry Ullmann ’74—have launched an initiative to fully endow the scholarship in perpetuity, ensuring that deserving students receive financial support to attend Blair for generations to come.

Jon and Penny devoted their lives to independent education and to those they served. Now, the Blair community has the opportunity to honor their legacy of teamwork by coming together to carry their dream to the finish line.

To support the A. Jon Frere Scholarship, visit www.blair.edu/honoring-jon-frere to donate or
contact Kristine Scialla, associate director of annual giving at (908) 362-2054 or scialk@blair.edu.

Below, please watch Coach Frere’s acceptance speech from the 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.