We are saddened to announce the passing of longtime S.H.C.C. Member Erin Maroney Fraser

Erin Maroney Fraser passed away suddenly, yet peacefully, on March 3, 2023. Born on April 23, 1969, in New York City, Erin cast a light on everyone who came into her orbit. She grew up in Tarrytown, NY where she quickly became a star athlete at Sleepy Hollow High School – dominating in track and field and tennis. She also was a star student and parlayed her academic success into a spot at Oxford College of Emory University. She was the picture of health at the Telfair Ball on February 25, dazzling Savannah with her beauty, charm, and intelligence.
Her love and commitment to Oxford College and the Emory University community led to a position on the Emory University board of counselors where since 2020 she co-chaired the Alumni to Student committee.
Anyone who met Erin would comment on her beauty, her style, and her quick wit. It was this wit that earned her a job working for Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels where she helped in the development and launch of Conan O’Brien’s Late Night. She went on to produce many films for Broadway Video, including Tommy Boy, Superstar, Black Sheep, and Wayne’s World 2. Erin also worked as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live as well as an associate producer and talent executive for Burly Bear Network, where she was responsible for developing talent and producing original programming.
On September 6, 1997, Erin married Walter Javan “Jay” Fraser, III. Erin and Jay have three beautiful children all of whom are either alumni or current students at Emory University. Her oldest daughter was just accepted to graduate school at the University of Georgia.
Erin had taken a hiatus from film production to raise her family but recently returned to the industry as Executive Director of the Savannah Regional Film Commission – a position that leveraged her experience and expertise and, more importantly, put her near her children. She immediately made an impact in Savannah and although her work wasn’t nearly complete, the contributions she made to the entertainment industry there will be felt for generations. Everyone who knew Erin knew she wasn’t a morning person, but she had come to love her walks to the office through Forsyth Park, sometime alone and sometimes with her husband and Jack Russell terrier, Roly.
“Erin was a veteran in the entertainment production industry and was already making such a positive impact here in Savannah. She had such a radiant and positive energy that people gravitated to her. She was going to do big things here in Savannah, and we are so fortunate that we were able to spend the time we had with her,” said Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison in announcing her passing in a recent press release. “We are heartbroken at the loss and offer her husband, her three children, and her family and friends our condolences.”
Erin’s husband was with her when she passed and is comforted that she did not suffer. Erin left this world knowing that her children would be just as fierce as her and she knew everyone who loved her would lean in to finish the job raising them.
Erin is survived by her husband, her three children, her sister Megan Ward, brother-in-law Peter Ward and their four children, her Mother Margaret Solin, father Tom Maroney and hundreds of friends around the world.
Erin has been honored far and wide. Flags have flown at half-mast at the SEDA offices in Savannah and Sleepy Hollow CC in Scarborough, NY. Saturday Night Live paid tribute to
her at the end of the March 11 episode. Rep. Buddy Carter the US Representative for Georgia’s 1st Congressional District read a tribute to her life on the House Floor on March 14.
A celebration of her incredible life and legacy will be held at 4pm on Saturday April 1st at Sleepy Hollow Country Club (where she grew up with Megan, was married and raised her own children). Erin loved April Fool’s Day and would plan for weeks to surprise her sister or friends with some ridiculous ruse.
Erin will be honored by the Savannah Economic Development Authority in her new home of Savannah, Georgia on April 11th. A memorial service in Forsyth Park is planned with a reception to follow at the Oglethorpe Club. The picture that accompanied her obituary was taken by her husband February 25th in Forsyth Park at the annual Telfair Ball as she famously did her “Paparazzi walk” through the party.
In lieu of flowers, a group of friends has established the Erin Maroney Fraser Children’s Education Fund to benefit Erin’s children and Emory university.