David Van Fraser, architect who provided online support for prostate cancer patients

Architect Van Fraser was a quiet man both professionally and personally. The buildings he designed were minimalist in appearance, intended to fit unobtrusively in their settings. He expressed himself in conversation the same way, simple and direct.

When it came to writing, though, he could be more expressive, even eloquent. His daughter, Elizabeth Washburn of Atlanta, said he surprised her years ago with the long letters he sent her when she spent a year of high school studying in Germany.

More recently, for a full decade he regularly wrote effective chat room messages of support and encouragement to men like him dealing with prostate cancer. "He made a lot of friends around the country that way," his daughter said.

One of them, Richard Zuch of Pawleys Island, S.C., said Mr. Fraser was very conscientious about taking the lead in the regular Tuesday night chat room communications. "Van was good at calming men who had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and reassuring others who were in the midst of treatment," he said.

Another chat room participant, Judy Granelli of Edison, N.J., gave Mr. Fraser credit for persuading her husband to visit a specialist out of state for treatment. "I figure Van earned my late husband an extra year of life," she said.

David Van Fraser, 79, died Monday at his Decatur home of prostate cancer complications. A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. on Monday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations for prostate cancer research be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Cremation Society of the South, Marietta, is in charge of arrangements.

Educated at Virginia Tech and Auburn universities, Mr. Fraser settled in metro Atlanta in 1956 with his wife, Lowrie, since deceased, and he began his architectural career here.

Henry Smith of Atlanta, an early architectural colleague, said he and his father needed help in 1957 designing a 15-story building for First National Bank of Atlanta at the corner of North Avenue and Peachtree Street, and Mr. Fraser was one of the architects they called in.

"At the time Van was recommended for his interior design, but it turned out he was equally good at exteriors," Mr. Smith said. "His work was so superior that soon anything that needed special attention we gave to Van."

During his private practice in the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Fraser designed numerous residences and schools around metro Atlanta. He also designed a minimalist-style home for his family on a lot his friend, Mr. Smith, called "topographically challenging."

In 1978 he took a position with Norfolk Southern Railway as director of architectural services, supervising a staff of 11 architects.

One of them, Ken Heard of Chattahoochee Hills, said he thought Mr. Fraser was a thorough professional and an excellent mentor.