A teacher, attorney, friend… But much more. Oliver Frascona touched the lives of many, many people. Mine included.
As recently as a couple of weeks ago I scoured his website. It was time to take the annual Colorado Real Estate Commission Update class and like every year, I only wanted to take it from Oliver. Why? Because no-one taught like Oliver Frascona. He commanded a room, his voice filling it, his face pulled in funny directions as he did his lawyer, Realtor and client imitations. He took dry, boring or complicated information and sold it to you as entertaining stories – often using himself as the example of what not to do. He was approachable, wholly likable and humble.
Before, during and after class, he gave free advice (always preceded by his canned and sped-up “Im not representing you” speech), listened always and had the ability to leave you feeling like you and your situation was important to him. And he was loyal.
There was a comforting predictability to his handlebar mustache, 3 piece suit, business shirt – perfectly ironed and monogrammed – and those cuff-links he was never without. He arrived organized, gave you all the info you needed and didn’t waste your time with the unnecessary. I never saw an empty seat at a Frascona class.
But I have to say, with all the value I got from his teaching, there was something else I was drawn to. We shared a passion for flying and the day I brought my pilot training books in and was cramming before class, he noticed. Thereafter, we shared several conversations about flying. He was as passionate and animated about flying as anyone could be. New avionics? Super exciting! This was the Oliver that didn’t wear the suit… The guy that talked frankly about instrument training and offered his time and flying gadgets to me… A Realtor he barely knew.
I will miss Oliver Frascona. The pilot, teacher, lawyer, giver… and the amazingly entertaining personality that he was. Totally irreplaceable.
My life as a Realtor and pilot will never quite be the same. 🙁