SHARON, Conn.—Francoise Albertine Kelz of Sharon, a longtime faculty member of Kent School, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026 at the age of 103.
Born on Sept. 10, 1922, in New York City, she was the only child to Albertine Durand and Francois Kelz.
She grew up in New York City, moving to Scarsdale, N.Y., in 1926 and to Sharon in 1967. She grew up during the Depression and when she graduated from Scarsdale High School in 1940, France had fallen to the Germans during WWII.
D-Day coincided with her graduation from Barnard College in 1944. These milestones were often repeated in her love of storytelling over the years. She shared countless and amazing tales as she reminisced about her life.
Her father, born in Bavaria, was one of nine children. He and several of his brothers came to the U.S. by boat and settled in the Bronx in the 1890s. He was Maitre’d at the Old Ritz Carlton where he met his wife, who worked as a receptionist. She was from Normandy, France, where her family owned a large farm.
Albertine was also employed at the Rainbow Room and Savoy Plaza as well as the famous 21 Club in NYC. Francoise’s was an artist and a weaver who designed and taught weaving and produced many tapestries on her looms, passing this talent along to her daughter.
Francoise attended Barnard College in NYC where she studied botany, winning the Herman Botanical Prize and graduating in 1944. In 2004, Francoise received the Award for Service to Barnard at her 60th reunion. She held nearly every position of class leadership, serving multiple terms as president, vice president, and fundraising chair.
With her characteristic generosity of time, energy and spirit, she spearheaded the creation of the Class of 1944 Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of classmates who had passed away and to continue the link with future generations of Barnard students. She also established the Durand-Kelz Scholarship Fund, recognizing her maternal grandmother, who was not given the opportunity to pursue a college education of her own.
After Barnard, Francoise attended Wellesley College and Columbia College to obtain her Master’s degree in botany. She taught at Columbia Pharmacy College in NYC from 1946 to 1965 and eventually became chairman of the scholarship committee at the college.
Francoise came to Kent School in the Fall of 1965 where she taught biology until her retirement in 1988. Francoise was considered a pioneer as one of the first full-time female faculty members and completed an illustrious career on the Hill Campus in an ever-developing science department.
She is remembered by her former colleagues and students for her deep love of science and her energy and enthusiasm. She led a long and distinguished career as a teacher and never slowed down after retirement.
Francoise and her mother were very close, and they loved to take long drives off the beaten paths. On one of their many trips, Francoise found and instantly fell in love with the “story book” town of Sharon where she bought her home in 1963.
Once she settled into her home in Sharon, Fran brought the same energy and curiosity into her volunteer work with the Sharon Historical Society. She took on the task of cataloging the Society’s textiles, bringing several microscopes retired from the biology lab with her. Her meticulous notes on every item remain a testament to her knowledge and patience.
Being an artist, several of her sketches survive in the collection records. Her dedication as a volunteer caught the attention of the SHS Board and she soon became a board member and later served as president.
During her tenure, SHS hired its first executive director and together they recognized the historic Gay Hoyt House needed an addition to the properly house the society’s growing collection. Funds were raised and Francoise’s vision was matched by her generosity.
Francoise was also a member of the Sharon Garden Club and served as president in the 1990s.
Francoise was a devoted member of Christ Church Episcopal. She held countless seats on their Vestry over many decades, supporting all aspects of the church, including the Alter Guild and backing projects such as the kitchen, steeple and organ restorations. She served as president of the northwest corner towns’ chapter of Church Women United and worked in outreach for Church World Services
After retirement, Francoise traveled extensively.
In keeping with her generous nature, Francoise established the C. and F. Kelz Fund through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, which will continue to support her most cherished institutions.
Francoise leaves behind many friends and neighbors as well as her dear friend, Bonnie Kerr, of Arizona, Audra Lewton, from Barnard College, and her parish family from Christ Church Episcopal in Sharon.
Special thanks to Dr. David Kurish for his care over the years and to the SVNA Home Assistanc,e Program, especially to her devoted caregiver and dear friend Betty Maddock also known lovingly as “Mama.”
There will be a celebration of Fran’s life held on Wednesday, June 17, at 10 a.m. at Christ Church Episcopal. It will be followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to The Little Guild Animal Rescue in West Cornwall.
