Sylvia French
(1938 – 2009)

AFA is sad to announce the passing of Sylvia French on March 6, 2009. Sylvia was an integral part of the AFA family – both the staff and the Field – for almost 20 years, until her retirement in December 2003. Her work for all of those years was in support of the volunteers in AFA’s Field organizations at the region, state and chapter level and the Delegates’ Sessions of the AFA National Convention. In many ways she was the single repository of knowledge about the Field. Everyone knew that if you wanted to know the answer to certain questions you had to “ask Sylvia.” Over the years many AFA volunteers became close friends, and there was very likely no one else on the AFA staff who touched as many of those who served AFA in the Field as she did.

Sylvia relocated to Ruther Glen, Virginia, and thoroughly enjoyed her retirement including the opportunity to serve as a volunteer docent at a local historical residence until her health declined in recent months. She is survived by a son and a daughter as well as two grandchildren. Information about the arrangements has not been released by the family.

Return to the Table of Contents or go to the Next Article