News and Press Releases
In Memoriam: Elsie Frank
By Anna Bissonnette, a fellow CEEH Founder
I can still see Elsie on that cold November Day in the B.U. George Sherman Union at the first Boston Area Elder Homelessness Conference. The event brought together the people and the passion that gave birth to The Committee to End Elder Homelessness. Because of Elsie’s indefatigable energy and freshness it was not long after that that a committee was established and the groundwork laid for the work that would follow. In our exuberance we believed that the problem of elder homelessness could probably be solved in five years!
Many meetings followed: board, community, official and private, public relations, fundraising, and in all cases Elsie was there saying what needed to be said. For example the Blackstone Square Association held a meeting in response to significant opposition in the neighborhood to our plan to develop permanent housing for 40 elders who were currently homeless. Neighbors were concerned this kind of housing would cause blight in the area.
Elsie’s response: “Well it’s true we are not developing a new Ann Taylor boutique, but we know you will be proud of the outcome.” What a delight for our small band of pioneers to hear those words—and the deafening silence that followed.
Elsie’s stature in the world of elder advocacy provided enormous credibility to our group and its work. She rarely missed the weekly 8:00 a.m. board meetings hosted by the Jewish Community Housing in Brighton. Elsie, using public transportation, was one of the most reliable members, showing up even on the coldest days. And she always wore the most colorful outfits that typified her inner energy and enormous enthusiasm for the project.
When we wanted to name our Bishop Street house in her honor, she refused, never wanting any public attention to her efforts. The picture of her painting the porch with Tipper Gore (see above right) remains as a wonderful reminder of her involvement in what became our first development. And it was Elsie who brought cheer each Christmas Day realizing it was important for staff to have that time off.
It is impossible not to think that in never pushing for attention, Elsie’s memory will be cherished all the more by staff, board, the folks served, and the community at large.
We share this loss with Elsie’s family and are ever grateful for all the time and effort Barney, Ann, David, and Doris have made to further CEEH’s work. We take comfort in the legacy of human caring that she left, and that will live on in the lives of so many.