Monday, March 1, 2021
I had the privilege to know Fran Hunter most of my life. As a young boy, I was slightly terrified of her – for all the reasons I came to adore her. She wasn’t what an “old lady” (in her late 50s then) was supposed to be like! Far from a gentle, doting (stereotyped) grandma, she was fiercely independent, opinionated, and vocal about it. But the special ingredient for me was always her curiosity. She had her opinions, but she always wanted to know yours. She wanted to learn, explore, and discover – a passion I hope I can emulate throughout my own life. That sincere curiosity meant that a debate with her was always an exchange of ideas, not just a presentation of opinions. I came away feeling that I was heard and knowing that I had learned from her. As sad as I am about her passing, I am so happy that her sharp mind was never dulled by age, and her fierce independence was only briefly hindered before her passing. She will be remembered most fondly.
