Frances Todman

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Frances Todman
Black and white portrait of a society matron wearing a suit and decorative brooch and sitting in front of an ornate wall decoration
Todman, 1982 by Kim Sargent
Born
Frances Holmes Burson

(1926-07-25)July 25, 1926
Jackson County, Georgia, US
DiedJanuary 23, 2008(2008-01-23) (aged 81)
New York City, US
Other namesFran Todman
Education
Barmore College
OccupationPhilanthropist
Years active1978–2000
Spouse(s)
William Selden Todman
​
​
(m. 1950; died 1979)​
Children2; including Bill Todman Jr.

Frances Todman (née Burson; July 25, 1926 – January 23, 2008) was an American philanthropist who raised and donated money for numerous educational, charitable, and health organizations. She was affiliated with the Retina Foundation for over 20 years.

Early life, education, and family[]

Frances Holmes Burson was born on July 25, 1926, in Jackson County, Georgia, to Fanette Lee "Fannie" (née Wood) and Lucius Holmes Burson.[1][2][3][4] Her parents separated shortly after her birth, divorcing in 1932,[3][5][6] and Burson grew up in the home of her maternal grandparents, Lutie Pearl (née Simmons, Wood) and William S. Thrasher.[7][8]

Burson attended Orlando High School, graduating in 1944.[9] She graduated from in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in 1946. She went on to study journalism at Barmore College in New York City.[9][10] During her schooling in New York, she worked for an advertising agency and then did modeling and make-up classes for Richard Hudnut Cosmetics.[10]

On December 17, 1950, at the St. Regis New York, she married William Selden Todman, a television and radio producer of Goodson-Todman Productions.[9] After their marriage, the couple made their home in Westchester County, New York,[10] where they raised two children, William Jr. and Lisa.[1] In 1974, they moved to Palm Springs, Florida, for the winter season.[10]

Charitable work[]

Todman began her involvement in charitable work when her husband developed a heart condition in the 1970s and she needed a break from tending to him.[10] He died in 1979[1] and that year, she became the chair of the Retina Foundation's annual fundraising gala.[10] Over the years, she served as general chairman, co-chairman, and committee member of the gala.[11] As a member of the board of trustees, she led the entertainment fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Palm Beach Benefit in 1982.[12]

She was involved in numerous charitable activities for the Boys Club of America, the Royal Poinciana Children's Theater, and the Eye Research Institute, among others.[13] In 1984, she donated $1 million (equivalent to $2,491,031 in 2020) to New York University Tisch School of the Arts to establish the William S. and Frances B. Todman Film and Television Center.[14] In 1986, the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Boston named its electrophysiology laboratory in her honor.[11] She remained active in charitable work with the Retina Foundation and the American Heart Association through 2000.[15][16][17]

Death and legacy[]

Todman died on January 23, 2008, in New York City.[18] Her son, Bill Todman Jr., became a film producer.[10]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Los Angeles Times 1979, p. 3.
  2. ^ The Orlando Sentinel 1930, p. 3.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Divorce Records 1932.
  4. ^ The Palm Beach Daily News 1994, p. 2.
  5. ^ U.S. Census 1930a, p. 3B.
  6. ^ U.S. Census 1930b, p. 6A.
  7. ^ Florida Census 1935, p. 19.
  8. ^ U.S. Census 1940, p. 3B.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Orlando Evening Star 1950, p. 12.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Scott 1982, p. A12.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Keeler 1986, p. 5.
  12. ^ The Palm Beach Daily News 1981, p. 7.
  13. ^ McGlynchey 1987, p. 4.
  14. ^ The Palm Beach Daily News 1984, p. 7.
  15. ^ Beach 1992, p. 4.
  16. ^ The Palm Beach Post 1996, p. 3, Nobables Section.
  17. ^ The Palm Beach Post 2000, p. 3, Nobables Section.
  18. ^ The New York Times 2008.

Bibliography[]

  • Beach, Susan (February 6, 1992). "Charles Schepens Honored". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach Florida. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Keeler, Wendy (February 11, 1986). "Fran Todman Receives Surprise Honor at Retina Gala". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach Florida. p. 5. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • McGlynchey, Kevin (September 8, 1987). "Fran Todman's Rolls is Stolen (pt. 1)". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach Florida. p. 1, 4. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • Scott, Dorey Finn (February 4, 1982). "Retina: Fran Todman Recalls Show Biz Years". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach Florida. p. A12. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "1930 U.S. Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida". FamilySearch. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. April 17, 1930. p. 6A. NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 326, lines 19–21. Retrieved December 22, 2020. (subscription required)
  • "1930 U.S. Census, Statham, Barrow County, Georgia". FamilySearch. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. April 4, 1930. p. 3B. NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 337, lines 79–81. Retrieved December 22, 2020. (subscription required)
  • "1935 Florida State Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida". FamilySearch. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida State Archives. 1935. p. 19. lines 21–26. Retrieved December 22, 2020. (subscription required)
  • "1940 U.S. Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida". FamilySearch. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. April 15, 1940. p. 17B-18A. NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 326, lines 79–80 and 1–2. Retrieved December 22, 2020. (subscription required)
  • "Bill Todman, 62, Producer of TV Game Shows, Dies". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. July 31, 1979. p. 3. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Fanette Brown". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. March 23, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Florida Divorce Index: Lucius Holmes Burson/Fannie Lee Burson". Ancestry.com. Orange County, Florida: Florida Department of Health. 1932. p. B. vol. 39, record 2268. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  • "Frances Burson Honoree at Party". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. July 28, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Frances Todman Named Chairman". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. December 20, 1981. p. 7. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Invitation Committee Prepares for Palm Beach Heart Ball". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. January 17, 1996. p. 3, Notables Section. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Miss Burson, Orlando Girl to Marry New Yorker Dec. 17". The Orlando Evening Star. Orlando, Florida. November 28, 1950. p. 12. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "The Schepens Eye Research Institute". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. January 19, 2000. p. 3, Notables Section. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  • "Todman". The New York Times. New York, New York. January 27, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  • "Todman Foundation Honored for Gift". The Palm Beach Daily News. Palm Beach, Florida. April 18, 1984. p. 7. Retrieved December 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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