Press Service International's Mark Tronson sourced this interview with Jean Frick and this is her story.
My Background
I was born and educated in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. I am an only child, and even though we were definitely working class, my parents made every effort to provide me with opportunities and advantages to help me develop and achieve. I started playing the violin in 3rd grade, and through the years my parents encouraged me and took me to concerts and gave me private lessons.
Later I played in the Paschal High School orchestra, the Region Orchestra, and was Concertmaster of the All State Orchestra in 1950. While I was a college (university) student at TCU, I worked as a cashier at the Colonial Cafeteria during the summer. Since I had to be at work at 11:00 our local Baptist church did not have an early service, I started attending the 8:45am service at University Christian Church (one block from my house).
I played violin professionally with the Fort Worth Opera while in college, and also with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra from 1957 for nearly 30 years. I taught public school "strings and orchestra" for 29 years, of those seven at Southwest High School, directing the prize-winning orchestra and outstanding musicals. I married TCU professor David Graham, and we had two children, Randall and Kelly, both are married with families. David died in 1996 from cancer.
Our family attended a local Baptist Church, I was baptised when nine (I was young, believed in Jesus). I joined the University Christian Church in 1953 when David and I married and became involved in the congregation's activities. I sang in the choir and played with anthems when they needed a violin. The entire family was involved with the Boar's Head Festival, presented by UCC as a gift to the community.
Music plays a huge part in my life
I am a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a national music fraternity for women, and active in the Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter. I perform in their concerts and write articles for their two publications. Over many years I've gone into Retirement Homes with other SAIs to give programs for the residents.
It's been fun holding several offices in the Symphony League of Fort Worth, including VP of Education and was responsible for the Docent Teams going into the schools. For this she received the "Alice Award". Later she was Chair of Oktoberfest in 1996 and 1997.
When UCC decided to present The Boar's Head Festival, David was asked to select the music to be played for each section. The whole family took part in the production – David and I played in the orchestra, Randall played Handbells and Kelly danced. For 30 plus years I played in the Fort Worth Symphony and Opera Orchestra, and taught music in FWISD.
David died in August 1996. Over the following two years I was Chair of Oktoberfest, a fundraiser to help support the Children's Education Programs. It was at this time that I met Dave Frick, who was Treasurer and also helped with the Silent Auction.
A New Adventure
Four years later in 2000 Dave Frick and I married in 2000. Dave Frick took me to Lay Witnesses for Christ International meetings where I met Dr Sam and Sharon Mings. I went with Dave to their Young Christian Athlete of the Year Banquet, where he photographed the participants. I was so very impressed with the young athletes and their testimonies.
Dr Mings was already making plans for Reach Out 2000 at the Sydney Olympics in Australia, and I became interested in that. He increased our interest in helping others to experience the same love of Jesus and joy of serving God that had become so important to us. We spent 7 weeks in Sydney. We photographed the Paralympics, we were both touched and challenged by the athletes with a disability.
Dave and I do not think that we met by accident – we truly believe that God meant for us to spend our "senior years" together. We were both retired when we married, so we have time and interest to volunteer for many worthwhile events ...musical as well as Christian. In January 2009 we were named Volunteers of the Month for the Children's Education Program at Bass Hall. One can read about Dave Frick's life and ministry in
Christian Today.
Community Service Ministry
For many years we have photographed the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition at SMU, sponsored by the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras; and for The Piano Texas International Academy and Festival at TCU. We travelled to Toronto, Houston, Minneapolis, San Diego, Pittsburg, Baltimore and Salt Lake City for Photographic Society of America conventions when Dave was Chair of the Photojournalism Division and I was Secretary.
We are active in the Maverick Region of the Porsche Club of America, and enjoy taking our Cayman on rallies and tours and on the track. Football season finds us at watch parties for both Penn State and TCU. As 'screeners' for the Lone Star Film Festival we watched 86 films last year.
We became involved with Fort Worth Sister Cities International in 2004. For 2 years Dave was Committee Chair for Trier, Germany, one of our seven partner cities. We have visited Trier three times, and been to other sister cities Budapest, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; and Mbabane, Swaziland. Jean has been on the music committee for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Sister Cities 'September Song' concerts, commemorating the 9/11 tragedy. At the annual meeting in December we were awarded the Sister Cities International 2009 Volunteer of the Year trophy.
After receiving training, we became Certified Tourism Associates (CTA) for North Texas. We direct visitors throughout the area for outstanding things to do and places to visit. This is extremely helpful with our foreign visitors from our sister cities.
Lay Witness for Christ International - our Ministry priority
Dr Sam Mings explained that Jean and Dave work together on mutually rewarding volunteer opportunities. Jean said that all the activities, our major Ministry focus is with Lay Witnesses for Christ International. We look forward to going to London in 2012, to be a part of the Bridging the Gap program at the Olympic Games, and will continue the Mission of the Lay Witnesses program during the Paralympics.
For more information, visit www.lwfci.com