Frances Rousmaniere Storrs, of Oyster Bay, died April 22 peacefully at home at the remarkable age of 100. Her charitable life began in 1929 at the age of 16, when she worked for the summer in Hyden, Kentucky, where her mother’s family had funded the Frontier Nursing Service three-room hospital, and rode horses through the back hills to help provide medical care. For the rest of her life, she devoted much of her energy to helping others through a multitude of charities, including Planned Parenthood, Visiting Nurse Services, the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Boys and Girls Club, the Oyster Bay Waterfront Center, Friends of the Bay and many others. She and her husband Richard (“Dick”) were leaders in creating Oyster Bay’s East Woods School in 1946 and she served the school for many years. Her inquiring mind led to travel all over the world, plus regular courses at Long Island’s Hutton House even into her nineties. “Frinnie” graduated from Chapin School in New York City and was one of Chapin’s longest-serving Class Secretaries. From its purchase in 1956 to 2013, she opened her home in Cove Neck to all, welcoming anyone who asked to use the house for a fundraiser or wedding.
A devoted wife to her late husband, she was a loving mother to her six children: the late Richard Jr. “Nick” (Jeanie) of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Ayer Bellerman of Oyster Bay, David (Landon) of Southport, Connecticut, Ginny Akabane (Gige) of Lenox, Massachusetts, Nancy (Jack) of St. Catherines, Canada, and Cleveland, of San Diego, California, and enjoyed tremendously their stories of travel, sports and academic achievements. She cherished her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and in her nineties was often on hands and knees playing games with them.
The Storrs family expresses its appreciation to Hospice of Woodbury, whose superb and compassionate care permitted her to stay in the house she loved so much until her passing, and to the aides who gave her such support.
A memorial service will be held June 8. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Oyster Bay Waterfront Center or East Woods School.
