Frances Scott, 1927 - 2007

Frances Scott at the 1997 Art Deco Expo
Frances Scott at the 1999 Art Deco Ball with Ingrid Horton and Tony Matarazzi
Frances Scott at the 1999 Art Deco Ball
Frances Scott inspects Tony Wilner's Bentley at the 1997 ADSW picnic

Photo gallery layout courtesy of Stu Nicholls of CSSplay.

Memories

I joined ADSW when Frances Scott was Program Chair. She was always so gracious and welcoming, and every month she had arranged another fantastic speaker—antique toy cars, diners of Virginia, preservation of the Greenbelt school, fashion shows, dance lessons, and more! We will miss her smile and warm presence, and send our sympathy to her family. —Deborah Shprentz

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I knew Frances Scott as a soft-spoken and sophisticated President of the ADSW. She was an excellent spokesperson for the society and an avid collector of Art Deco. She always showed an interest in what dealers at the Expo were displaying while still working hard at the front desk collecting admissions. One time, Frances forgot to take with her a leather pouch full of Expo admission cash at the end of the show. Not missing a beat, she returned from home to find it waiting for her where she left it. I will remember her as the grande dame of ADSW. —Ira Raskin, ADSW Treasurer/Expo Deputy

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When I just happened to run across an ad that there was to be an Art Deco Ball at the Shoreham Hotel Blue Room, a long time ago, I realized that this was impossible to resist so I went. I was greeted warmly and joined at the table when I purchased my ticket. Somehow I was fortunate to be seated at the table with Frances and found her enthusiasm to be positively infectious. We became fast friends that evening. Through the years we would get together and we would ride together to various functions. One day I purchased a wallet and brought it home to see if my cards, etc would fit and to my amazement I found the drivers license belonging to Frances. Being impossible to return the wallet, it is with me still. We had a good laugh over that one.

My deepest and most sincere sympathy to her family. —Joan Grimm

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I would be remiss if I did not pay tribute to Frances, a dear friend for many years. We shared many good times, and much hearty laughter. She took life in stride, and tried to see the positive side of things. She will be missed. —Allen Dickinson

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We will all miss Frances, she always worked hard and put a lot time into the ADSW. Our deepest thoughts go out the family, she was a dear friend. —Don Selkirk, Mark Moscato

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Dear friends of ADSW:

The world has lost a wonderful person in Frances Scott, and I want to write a few words about this lovely lady. Frances was a devoted member of the Art Deco Society all through the hard early years as we built up the organization. She was one of the best and most universally beloved members of our board. But most of all—she saved the organization in a time of dire emergency. She filled a sudden leadership vacuum with soft-spoken gallantry. She went on to serve as a superb ADSW president. Her quiet, friendly ways were supremely effective in the motivation of volunteers. People gave their utmost for Frances because they simply loved her. And when she had to pass the torch to another, she recruited a superb successor. What more can any organization ask of its leader?

Our lives have been made much poorer by the loss of Frances. But the world was a much better place for the fact that Frances Scott walked among us for a while.

Sincerely,
Richard Striner
Founding President
Art Deco Society of Washington

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I will certainly miss a long-time friend. I believe I initially recruited Frances to the ADSW board as program chair. This was during a tour the society took to the Frederick Historical Society to see an exhibit on Claire McCardell and the clothes she designed (she was from Frederick).  I wanted Frances to be on the board because she had interest and knowledge, was very diligent, and was good with people. She agreed to do it, and for years we were on the phone almost every day talking about ADSW programs and people.

And I also remember the night she agreed to take over as president, when an emergency opening occurred. She did step up as the person respected by all sides. The board was glad to send her to the Art Deco Congress in Australia/New Zealand because we knew she would be a good ambassador for our group, as she was. She made many long-term friends on that trip. Everybody has commented on how approachable and likeable Frances was, and this is true. Many people over the years told me that they were standing alone or sitting alone at some event and Frances came up to talk to them. She became the public face of the ADSW to many people, and this was very helpful in acquiring volunteers and members. In addition to these valuable personal qualities, Frances also had very discriminating taste—she cherished her well-chosen collections of Russell Wright dishes and of mid-century modern chairs. —Linda Ingram, Former Program Chair

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When I attended my first ADSW meeting (other than the Expo), Frances Scott introduced herself and took me around to meet all of the other Board members present. When she learned that I had authored a new book on Art Deco she volunteered, without hesitation, to take a copy with her to the World Congress in Napier to “sell” it to other attendees.

Although Frances left the Board at about the same time I joined, our friendship grew in the following years. For several years, Frances was a Saturday afternoon “regular” at Past Pleasures Antiques in Annandale where we would discuss not just Art Deco but Frances’ other passion—her family. I had the distinct privilege of escorting Frances to four ADSW fashion shows and to ADSW’s Pre-Congress program in 2005. Frances always enjoyed donning her period attire complete with Bakelite jewelry and one of her favorite Whiting & Davis purses.

To see Decophiles from around the country and around the world greet Frances at the pre-Congress events years after her active involvement in Board activities ended made me recognize Frances’ lasting importance to ADSW. She was ADSW’s good-will ambassador. We couldn’t have asked for a more devoted supporter. —Jim Linz, Publications Chair

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I was so sorry to learn from the Spring 2007 Trans-Lux of the passing of Frances Scott. I met Frances before she stepped into the President's position and I kept up with her for years after that until just recently, when our contacts were reduced to annual sightings of each other at the Expo's. One of the first things I would do at each Expo is ask someone if they had seen Frances yet so I could go find her and greet her. I am saddened that this is no longer possible and I won't be seeing her again in her art deco clothing, enthusing about what she was seeing at the Expo.

Over the years, Frances and I went to NYC, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, Australia to appreciate Art Deco together.  We made other excursions together locally, sometimes for ADSW events and sometimes of our own creation. I visited her condo many times and always marveled at her beautiful art deco furnishings and decor.  I especially remember what fun we had at a Sunday afternoon flea market on Manhattan, when we both came back with matching black table lamps (among other purchases).

I feel bad that I didn't even know she was ill but there may have been e-mails that I never received because I was injured in a car accident in late December and never saw any e-mails that went to my office account after that time because I have been at home ever since, recovering from the car accident. —Cheryl Terry

From the Family

We wish to express our gratitude to the members of the ADSW for the kind words and thoughts in our time of mourning. At this time, we hope you all will join us in celebrating her passion for life. She was and will always be our hero. You all meant the world to her as did the heritage you will carry on with this society. Be proud of your association and carry her memory with you as we will. We thank you all again. You will be in our hearts forever.

Again, thank you for your kind words about our mother.

The children of Frances,
Tom, Courtney, and Leecie Scott
March 17, 2007