Myrna Frankel
Myrna Raihill Frankel, our adored wife, mother, grandmother, colleague and friend, died on August 7, 2017, of cancer, at her home in San Francisco. She was 79. It is hard to put into words what Myrna meant to all of us; she touched countless lives with her neverending kindness, generosity and good humor.
Originally from Duluth, Myrna graduated from the University of Minnesota with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Speech Pathology, and came to San Francisco in 1960. Her first job was as a residential counselor for emotionally disturbed children at Homewood Terrace, and she became an energetic and lifelong advocate for the wellbeing of children and families. Myrna received graduate degrees in Early Childhood Development (San Francisco State University), Social Welfare (U.C. Berkeley), and Psychoanalysis (San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis). She was a preschool teacher, served on the Advisory Council to the Mayor’s Office of Child Care, founded and ran Acorn Toddler Playgroup, served as a Board Member for Camp Tawonga, and worked as a therapist and child analyst in private practice for almost 30 years. Myrna volunteered at Parents’ Place, Glide Memorial Church, Catholic Charities, The DeYoung Museum, Langley Porter, KQED Auction, The Sierra Club and Jewish Family and Children’s Services. She was energized by doing things to help others!
Myrna had an enormous network of friends, family and professional colleagues who will miss her terribly. She was a spark, a bringer of joy, a shoulder to lean on, and the person who would show up with a homecooked meal to celebrate a happy occasion or to support anyone in grief or upheaval. She was a giftgiver extraordinaire and the hostess with the mostess. Her love of flowers, books, quilts, tchotchkes, antiques, folk art, travel, entertaining, Freud and desserts was epic. She was sweet, tough, funny, fierce and ever so smart.
Myrna is survived by her Tom, her husband of 56 years; her children Ellen Frankel (John Crossman) and David Frankel (Kimberly Buss); and her grandchildren Jacob, Eli, Anna, Parker and Amy. Myrna was part of an enormous extended family and a huge community of friends and colleagues. Myrna loved and was loved by hundreds of people. She epitomized a life well lived, said she had “no regrets,” and passed away with grit and grace. Our hearts are heavy and we miss her so much.
Service to be held at Congregation Emanu-El (1 Lake Street, San Francisco) on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 3:30PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (sf-cp. org), Jewish Family and Children’s Services (www. jfcs.org) or the charity of your choice.