Alix Nelson-Frick, author and former CEO of the book-focused advertising firm Franklin Spier, died November 12. She was 77.
Nelson-Frick grew up in Manhattan, the daughter of well-known advertising copywriter Shirley Polykoff. She began her publishing career at Simon & Schuster, working for the legendary editor Bob Gottlieb. She is credited with acquiring and publishing the early works of such writers as Tom McGuane, William Hjortsberg, Diane Wakoski, JD Reed, and Jim Harrison.
In 1985 she joined the now defunct ad agency Franklin Spier, a firm that specialized in book publishing projects, as creative director. She was named CEO of Franklin Spier in 1985, and retired in 2000.
Nelson-Frick was also a freelance journalist and contributed reviews, essays and articles to The New York Times Book Review and a variety of women's magazines. She also wrote three book, including the 2011 title The Stuff of Legends – A Daughter’s Take on the Woman Who Transformed Advertising in the 1960’s.
Donations in memory of Nelson-Frick can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Research efforts at Mass General Hospital, or through giving.massgeneral.org. For the guest book and obituary, please visit Everettfuneral.com.
