In Memory of Earl Fry
Published on December 29, 2024
Earl Howard Fry (19 May 1947-16 December 2024) long-time BYU Kennedy Center friend, Fulbrighter, Study Abroad Director, and Canadian Studies founder passed away. He was a tireless supporter of Canadian Studies , a research program that hosts the annual Asael E. and Maydell C. Palmer Lecture, bringing an outstanding scholar of Canada to campus each year. The program partners with other Kennedy Center programs and academic departments to host events that foster greater understanding about Canada. He also published and lectured on trade, North America, and the role of cities in foreign affairs and originated the “If States were Nations” GDP infographic (appropriated by the Economist magazine and widely shared). Some publications include:
- Revitalizing Governance, Restoring Prosperity, and Reconstructing Foreign Affairs: The Pathway to Renaissance America (2014) -- see him on C-SPAN 6/2016
- Lament for America (2010)
- The Expanding Role of State and Local Governments in U.S. Foreign Affairs (1998)
According to his obituary, he passed away from complications related to cancer in Summerlin, Nevada. He was looking forward to reuniting with his deceased wife, Katherine Elaine Fisher. Earl was known for his keen intellect. He received his PhD from UCLA and holds a BA and MA from Brigham Young University (BYU). He served as a Fulbright Lecturer at the Sorbonne in 1974-75 and was the Director of International Education and Canadian Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh. For 38 years, Earl was a Professor of Political Science and Endowed Professor of Canadian Studies at BYU. During that time, he was a Special Assistant in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, part of the Executive Office of the Reagan administration. He also served as President of the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) and was a visiting fellow at the Americas Society in New York City. In 1995, Earl was awarded the Fulbright-Bissell Professorship at the University of Toronto and participated as a foreign observer in the 1995 Quebec Referendum on sovereignty. In 2011, he was awarded the Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies at the University of Helsinki. He also served on the board of directors of the Fulbright Association.
Earl was the Enders Fellow at McGill University in Montreal, a visiting professor at the Université de Montréal and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, and a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. Some of his favorite opportunities were directing the Washington Seminar program for BYU multiple times and presenting at a National Security forum at the University of Virginia for several years. All these experiences had a significant impact on Earl, particularly because of the relationships he made with students and colleagues along the way. Earl was the author and editor of more than 20 books. His publications focused on state and local governments, trade policy, and international investment; he was invited to testify before committees of the U.S. Congress on these issues. He also published many articles and editorials, including an opinion piece published in the Deseret News last June.
Travel was one of Earl's passions. He visited over 45 countries and all continents but Antarctica. He enjoyed spending his summers in San Diego and walking along La Jolla Shores. He was also an avid BYU sports fan. His favorite website was the CougarBoard, where he not only learned about BYU sports but also interest rates, travel hacks, and cryptocurrency.
Earl was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He converted as a teenager. After studying for two years at UC Berkeley, he forfeited his scholarship to serve a mission in Paris, France. His mission led to a lifelong love of Paris, where he visited dozens of times and spent extended periods. One of his favorite experiences was directing the Paris study abroad program for BYU in 2007-2008 with Elaine.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; granddaughter Jade Elaine Fry; his mother and father, Alice Annabelle Horlacher and Harvey Wallace Fry; and his siblings. He is survived by his six children: Christopher (Rebecca) Fry, Lisa (Chi) Fry, Leanna Fry, Kimberly (Will) Neves, Steven (Andi) Fry, and Kristen (Alex) Furner, and 20 grandchildren. He was buried at Eastlawn Memorial Hills in Provo, Utah, next to Elaine, following a family memorial service. Donations in Earl's memory can be made to Computers for the Blind.
Earl was the Enders Fellow at McGill University in Montreal, a visiting professor at the Université de Montréal and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, and a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. Some of his favorite opportunities were directing the Washington Seminar program for BYU multiple times and presenting at a National Security forum at the University of Virginia for several years. All these experiences had a significant impact on Earl, particularly because of the relationships he made with students and colleagues along the way. Earl was the author and editor of more than 20 books. His publications focused on state and local governments, trade policy, and international investment; he was invited to testify before committees of the U.S. Congress on these issues. He also published many articles and editorials, including an opinion piece published in the Deseret News last June.
Travel was one of Earl's passions. He visited over 45 countries and all continents but Antarctica. He enjoyed spending his summers in San Diego and walking along La Jolla Shores. He was also an avid BYU sports fan. His favorite website was the CougarBoard, where he not only learned about BYU sports but also interest rates, travel hacks, and cryptocurrency.
Earl was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He converted as a teenager. After studying for two years at UC Berkeley, he forfeited his scholarship to serve a mission in Paris, France. His mission led to a lifelong love of Paris, where he visited dozens of times and spent extended periods. One of his favorite experiences was directing the Paris study abroad program for BYU in 2007-2008 with Elaine.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; granddaughter Jade Elaine Fry; his mother and father, Alice Annabelle Horlacher and Harvey Wallace Fry; and his siblings. He is survived by his six children: Christopher (Rebecca) Fry, Lisa (Chi) Fry, Leanna Fry, Kimberly (Will) Neves, Steven (Andi) Fry, and Kristen (Alex) Furner, and 20 grandchildren. He was buried at Eastlawn Memorial Hills in Provo, Utah, next to Elaine, following a family memorial service. Donations in Earl's memory can be made to Computers for the Blind.