We are saddened to announce the passing of ELEANOR FRANCES “FRAN” BARNES, 70. She passed away at home in Boca Raton, Florida on Friday, March 1st, 2013.
Fran, the first daughter of the late Frank & Elena Selin, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on August 16th, 1942. Her rich life spent as part of an extended family working for the airlines included many travels around the world. She graduated from the Karachi American School (KAS) in Pakistan in 1960, and after organizing their first stateside class reunion in 1988, inspired others to take up doing the same. She also lived in Mexico for five years with her family in the 1970s, and was fluent in Spanish and other world languages.
She was a Flight Attendant for Pan American Airways, a Director & Choreographer in theater productions, and sold Real Estate for years in Connecticut and Florida. She loved to dance and was an avid tennis player and sports enthusiast. In 2005, she survived a stroke that despite leaving her half-paralyzed and in a wheelchair, did nothing to stop her from living at home independently for eight years.
Fran was married in 1964 to the late Harold Barnes, and is survived by her sons Gregory & Michael; sisters Chris, Joanne & Michele; daughter-in-law Marjorie; granddaughters Aylenne, Caitlin & Alexcia; dearest Tuesday night friend Allison; and a large extended family (including her beloved Maggie & Lily) who all loved and admired her deeply. She leaves behind dozens of other loved ones that also considered her a sister or second mother, and her legacy and impact on those that were fortunate enough to know her lives on.
A memorial gathering will be held in the near future. As her friends, family, and extended family reside all over the world, we will strive to find a time and location that will make this gathering accessible to as many as possible. In lieu of flowers/condolences, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Roadracing World Action Fund in her name–rider safety is something she enthusiastically supported. Fran will be missed by those who were lucky enough to know her until the lights went down on Broadway.