Frances Ring Grossman died peacefully on May 9, 2011 in Bar Harbor. She was born September 17, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, the loving daughter of John and Rose Grossman and sister of Robert.
She is survived and dearly loved by her niece Peggy Grossman and her husband Joe Woodard and their children Sam and Claire Woodard and her niece Sally McQuillan and her children, Madeleine and Gene McQuillan, all of California.
Frances was a bright, witty and warm woman, admired by those who had the good fortune to know her. She spent many years in publishing, working for W. W. Norton and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishers while living in New York City for decades.
After summering in Bar Harbor for many years, she headed north and happily lived full-time in Maine for more than a third of her life. She was an accomplished needle artist, whose work can be admired in the needlepoint kneelers she designed and stitched for the sanctuary at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Southwest Harbor.
Frances will be greatly missed by all who knew her, especially including the close friends of her later years, Eleanor Murphy, Pamela Smith, Sarah Flynn, and Vesta Kowalski all of West Tremont.
According to her wishes, her ashes will be interred with those of her long-time partner, Joan Staats, in the memorial garden at St. John’s Church.
Contributions in Frances’ memory may be made to the Southwest Harbor Library, PO Box 157, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com