Shirley Ann (Sas) Frank of Savannah, GA passed peacefully while surrounded by loved ones on January 26, 2023. She was 91 years young.
Shirley Ann (Sas) Frank
Sas was the daughter of the late Rodney and Ola Smith of Long Island, New York. Following her graduation from White Plains High School, she enrolled at Purdue University and joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. It was there in her freshman English class that she earned her infamous nickname “Sas”. Over Thanksgiving at the neighboring Sigma Chi fraternity house she met the love of her life Myron (My) Frank, whom she married in 1953. Sas graduated with a degree in Consumer and Family Sciences and joined My in Midland, Michigan where he was employed by the Dow Chemical Company. In 1966 she moved with her family east, first to Darien, CT and then to New Canaan, CT where she was a teacher at Saxe Middle and New Canaan High School for a combined 21 years.
In 1995 My and Sas started the next phase of their lives by moving to the Landings on Skidaway Island, Savannah, GA.
In her life she loved spending time with friends and family, hosting parties and sharing laughs. My and Sas loved to travel, and spent their retirement circling the globe twice together. Sas made fast friends everywhere she went, and made a point to get to know all those she encountered, not excluding waitstaff, grocery store clerks, and crossing guards.
She was a member of the Country Club of Darien, the New Canaan Congregational Church, the Landings Club, Skidaway Island Methodist Church, Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Sas was predeceased by her loving husband My, as well as their son Dr. Kevin S. Frank, DDS.
She is survived by their daughter Kristin Frank McGarey and her husband Francis X. McGarey of Darien, CT, grandson Andrew McGarey and wife Gabriella of Stamford, CT, granddaughter Alison McGarey Trandel and husband Philip of Atlanta, GA; Daughter-in-law Dr. Janice Mooney-Frank of Cromwell, CT and grandchildren Emilie Frank of North Providence, RI, Gregory Frank of San Mateo, CA and Melanie Frank of Newton Centre, MA; Brother Douglas P. Smith of Redwood City, CA. As well as honorary granddaughters Kate Lehr and Hannah Evans of Savannah, GA
The family would like to thank all of those who have cared for and supported Sas in her twilight years, especially all of her bluebirds at Coastal Care Partners.
A private memorial service was held with family in Savannah, GA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to YMCA Camp Takodah of Richmond, New Hampshire. https://www.camptakodah.org/donate/donate-now/
She was the best Girls Scout Troop leader!
I agree she and Mrs Swallen were quite the team. Our annual trips to Block Island are some of my fondest memories of Girl Scouting.
She was a lovely person and very good teacher, I remember her as smiling and with a whooping laugh.
A great colleague with a wonderful sense of humor. The smell of apple pies cooking in the Home Economics hallway is permanent.
Mrs. Frank was my Home Ec teacher at NCHS, and she was the best. Patient, fun, and a great teacher. Sending her family lots of love.