Mary Frances Miller

Or Fran to her friends and family, was born on Valentine’s day, 1940 in Pennsylvania.

Her father, Leo Joseph Fitzpatrick, an executive at Westinghouse and her mother, Shirley Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, an educator, raised Fran along with her older brother, Daniel Fitzpatrick.

Fran graduated from Cedar Crest College with a BA in Education in 1962, where she was class president and made some lifelong friendships and connections. Later she received a Masters in Technology for Education at Harvard.

During her career in Education, Fran taught Elementary students for 36 years, starting first at Cedar Road Elementary in Pennsylvania, then continuing to teach in the Montgomery County school system in Maryland, where she retired in 1998 at Chevy Chase Elementary.

Fran held traits that make a good educator, She was empathetic, a strong communicator, creative, passionate, well organized and tireless.

Throughout  her career, Fran pioneered many teaching methods and curriculums, such as cooperative learning, co-teaching (with her close friend, Jan Denburg,) and integrating computers into the classroom.

Along the way, Fran became the step mother to two boys, Blair and Greg Miller and had a daughter, Michele Miller Svengsouk. Throughout their lives, she was a mother who was always nurturing, giving and inspiring. As a loving daughter, Fran would travel between Maryland and Pennsylvania to visit her parents and the rest of the Fitzpatrick side of the family. As her family spread to other states like Maryland, California and Arizona, she would continue to keep the family bond strong. 

When Fran “retired,” she moved out to Carlsbad, California where she immediately devoted herself to the community, making new friends/connections and to pursuing activities like theater going, volunteering and becoming an expert and local to the area. One of the first places she volunteered at was the Carlsbad Visitor Center, figuring that it was the best place to get to know as much as she could about where she was living.

She returned to education, this time preparing and guiding future teachers in the San Diego area. 

If you knew Fran, she was always on the go. When family would visit, they needed to make sure that they fit within her tightly packed schedule! But, between volunteering, teaching, travel, (multiple) book clubs, game nights, outings and more, Fran always made time for her family and everyone who came to know her. She was an amazing mother, grandmother, friend and host.

Fran was also involved in the American Association of University Women (AAUW,) and P.E.O., organizations which promote equity, education and educational opportunities for women. She served as President for both organizations and in her time there helped provide scholarships for women in need.

Fran leaves behind a wealth of friendships and professional relations. Her legacy as an educator and leader continued beyond her retirement, serving the San Diego community and supporting women rights and education nationally. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, spark and joy she brought to everyone who met and knew her.