“Hello. This is Fran. Sorry I can’t be with you right now. I’m off—got another project going…” was what one would hear when leaving a message on Fran’s voice mail. How true! Fran was a lifelong learner whose calendar was filled with classes, meetings, workdays, concerts, and performances. Or, perhaps she was on one of her many international or continental trips.
As a volunteer, Fran was a charter member, officer, board member, facilitator, participant, refreshment provider, usher or appreciative audience of AAUW (American Association of University Women and subsequent book club), Catskill Symphony (Christmas gift-wrapping specialist), CCAL (The Center for Continuing Adult Learning—how to tie scarves and travelogue maven), Chain Gang Crochet Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, Rho Chapter (female outstanding educators), Executive Service Corps, Fenimore Art Museum, Friends of Huntington Memorial Library, Glimmerglass Guild and Festival, Greater Oneonta Historical Society, Oneonta Concert Association, Oneonta Federated Garden Club (Art in Bloom winner several times), PEO Sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization), Susquehanna Valley Quilters, Friends of the Swart-Wilcox House Museum, and more.…