A Grosse Pointe Woods family has had Detroit Lions season tickets since the 1950s. As the team is coming up on their second playoff game, it’s clear their family’s commitment has paid off, but they’re calling this season bittersweet.
The biggest fan in the family, Jim Fraser, passed away in September 2023 at 77. He would go to every home game with a “Waiting since 57″ hat.
Fraser’s family thinks he’s still with them at games, rooting for the Lions.
“Jim loved the Lions,” said his widow, Nancy Fraser.
Jim wasn’t your ordinary Lions super fan; his nephews and widow will tell you that it was in his blood.
“Legend has it that my great grandfather was part of the Detroit Football Company, and so it was just something that we did on Sunday, either watched the Lions or went to the games,” said Rob Weathers, Fraser’s nephew.
Jim made sure his nephews knew it was in their blood, too.
“We were not allowed to go to a game until we learned the fight song,” Weathers said.
“That was always the deal, he took us as kids, and he said when we got older, we had to take him to the games,” said Andrew Weathers, another one of Fraser’s nephews. “So we started to take him down a lot when he couldn’t drive down there anymore.”
Jim even tried to incorporate his love for the Lions with the love of his life on their wedding day.
“Initially, Jim wanted to put TVs on every table at the yacht club,” Nancy said. “I said, ‘No, Jim, we can’t do that.’”
The couple watched the game in the limo on their way to the reception and missed their cocktail hour because of it.
That’s why this season’s success is bittersweet. Jim died the day of the 2023-2024 season’s home opener.
“People were asking about him the day we went to the game, but they’ve (the Lions) had a winning streak ever since then,” Andrew said.
“I still say, up in heaven he’s having something to do with what’s going on, go Lions,” Nancy Fraser said. “Even at his funeral, when they put his body in the ground we stopped everything and we sung the Lions song at the end.”
The family will be at Ford Field on Sunday (Jan. 19) for the playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.