With sadness, Williams mourns the death of Frances (Fran) Lapidus, who joined Williams in 1988 and retired as Associate Director of Admissions in 2013.
Fran was a well-known and -respected, engaged member of our community. In addition to her work for Williams she served as chair and longtime member of the Williamstown School committee and chaired their superintendent search committee; as both a trustee of the North Adams Regional Hospital and president of its Williamstown Auxiliary; and as a member of the Western Massachusetts Regional Advisory Education Council. In addition, she was very influential in earning Williamstown’s designation as a Massachusetts Cultural District.
Prior to her time locally, Fran earned her B.S. in Education from the University of Maryland and M.S. in Education from North Adams State College, now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She taught in the Montgomery (Md.) County Schools and in Newton, Mass., as well as at the Kingsley School for Underachievers, and worked as a play therapist at the North Adams Regional Hospital.
Fran is survived by her husband Ira, a retired dentist and chair emeritus of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, their sons and extended family.
The Lapidus family will hold a memorial service in 2024. Fran’s full obituary is available online. Our thoughts go out her loved ones, friends and colleagues.
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