Passing of Dianne Frazier

It is with great sadness that SERN/SERGG announces the passing of Dianne Frazier, Ph.D., on Sunday, October 31, 2021. She succumbed to metastatic breast cancer that had been successfully treated for decades.

Dianne was born December 12, 1941, to Mable and John Patrick Murphy in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Dianne received her B.A. magna cum laude from Drew University. She received an NIH grant to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the Duke University Medical School. Upon receiving her degree, she accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Pediatric Biochemistry. She also received a Master’s in Public Health from the UNC School of Public Health and was a Registered Dietician. Her focus was on inborn errors of metabolism and newborn screening. During her career, she taught hundreds of undergraduate, graduate, and medical students managed a clinical caseload of over 300 patients, published 60 book chapters and journal articles, and was an invited lecturer at numerous national and international conferences. She held elected and appointed positions in the North Carolina Medical Genetics Association, the Durham Chapel Hill Dietetic Association, the Southeastern Regional Genetics Group (SERGG), the Southeast Regional Network (SERN), the Genetic Metabolic Dieticians Internal (GMDI), and the North Carolina Newborn Screening Advisory Board.

Dianne was a giant in her field: she developed protocols for newborn screening and helped North Carolina become the first state to implement a program for screening for over 20 inborn errors of metabolism. Because of her extraordinary impact on improving the lives of countless children, she was conferred the Order of the Long Leaf Pine: North Carolina’s highest civilian honor. Additionally, Dianne was recognized for her service with a SERGG Professional Recognition Award, GMDA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Drew University Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dianne is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Jim; her daughter, Jenny Frazier Strasburg (Sean), and granddaughters Sadie and Betsy Strasburg; brother Bill Murphy (Linda), their children John and Kate Murphy; her brother-in-law Harold Frazier (Deborah) and their children Liz Peck and Richard Frazier; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Drew University, the North Carolina Botanical Gardens, or the University of Presbyterian Church. On Friday, November 5th at 1.pm, a memorial service followed by a reception will be held at the University Presbyterian Church on Franklin St in Chapel Hill, NC.