Frances Todman
{{Short description|American philanthropist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Frances Todman
| image = Frances_Todman.jpg
| alt = Black and white portrait of a society matron wearing a suit and decorative brooch and sitting in front of an ornate wall decoration
| caption = Todman, 1982 by Kim Sargent
| birth_name = Frances Holmes Burson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|07|25}}
| birth_place = Jackson County, Georgia, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|01|23|1926|07|25}}
| death_place = New York City, US
| other_names = Fran Todman
| education = Chevy Chase Junior College
Barmore Junior College
| occupation = Philanthropist
| years_active = 1978–2000
| notable_works =
| spouse = {{marriage|William Selden Todman|1950|1979|end=died}}
| children = 2; including Bill Todman Jr.
}}
Frances Holmes 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.{{sfn|The Los Angeles Times|1979|p=3}}{{sfn|The Orlando Sentinel|1930|p=3}}{{sfn|Divorce Records|1932}}{{sfn|The Palm Beach Daily News|1994|p=2}} Her parents separated shortly after her birth, divorcing in 1932,{{sfn|Divorce Records|1932}}{{sfn|U.S. Census|1930a|p=3B}}{{sfn|U.S. Census|1930b|p=6A}} and Burson grew up in the home of her maternal grandparents, Lutie Pearl (née Simmons, Wood) and William S. Thrasher.{{sfn|Florida Census|1935|p=19}}{{sfn|U.S. Census|1940|p=3B}}
Burson attended Orlando High School, graduating in 1944.{{sfn|The Orlando Evening Star|1950|p=12}} She graduated from Chevy Chase Junior College in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in 1946. She went on to study journalism at Barmore Junior College in New York City.{{sfn|The Orlando Evening Star|1950|p=12}}{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}} During her schooling in New York, she worked for an advertising agency and then did modeling and make-up classes for Richard Hudnut Cosmetics.{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}}
On December 17, 1950, at the St. Regis New York, she married William Selden Todman, a television and radio producer of Goodson-Todman Productions.{{sfn|The Orlando Evening Star|1950|p=12}} After their marriage, the couple made their home in Westchester County, New York,{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}} where they raised two children, William Jr. and Lisa.{{sfn|The Los Angeles Times|1979|p=3}} In 1974, they moved to Palm Springs, Florida, for the winter season.{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}}
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.{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}} He died in 1979, aged 62.{{sfn|The Los Angeles Times|1979|p=3}} That same year, she became the chair of the Retina Foundation's annual fundraising gala.{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}} Over the years, she served as general chairman, co-chairman, and committee member of the gala.{{sfn|Keeler|1986|p=5}} As a member of the board of trustees, she led the entertainment fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Palm Beach Benefit in 1982.{{sfn|The Palm Beach Daily News|1981|p=7}}
Todman 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.{{sfn|McGlynchey|1987|p=4}} In 1984, she donated $1 million ({{Inflation|US|1000000|1984|r=0|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}) to New York University Tisch School of the Arts to establish the William S. and Frances B. Todman Film and Television Center.{{sfn|The Palm Beach Daily News|1984|p=7}} In 1986, the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Boston named its electrophysiology laboratory in her honor.{{sfn|Keeler|1986|p=5}} She remained active in charitable work with the Retina Foundation and the American Heart Association through 2000.{{sfn|Beach|1992|p=4}}{{sfn|The Palm Beach Post|1996|p=3, Nobables Section}}{{sfn|The Palm Beach Post|2000|p=3, Nobables Section}}
Death and legacy
Todman died on January 23, 2008, in New York City.{{sfn|The New York Times|2008}} Her son, Bill Todman Jr., became a film producer.{{sfn|Scott|1982|p=A12}}
References
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{Refbegin|30em}}
- {{cite news |last1=Beach |first1=Susan |title=Charles Schepens Honored |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65827379/palm-beach-daily-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=February 6, 1992 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach Florida |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |last1=Keeler |first1=Wendy |title=Fran Todman Receives Surprise Honor at Retina Gala |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65821185/palm-beach-daily-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=February 11, 1986 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach Florida |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |last1=McGlynchey |first1=Kevin |title= Fran Todman's Rolls is Stolen (pt. 1) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65820777/palm-beach-daily-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=September 8, 1987 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach Florida |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65820777/palm-beach-daily-news/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65820837/palm-beach-daily-news/ 4] |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Dorey Finn |title=Retina: Fran Todman Recalls Show Biz Years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65821415/palm-beach-daily-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=February 4, 1982 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach Florida |page=A12 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1930b}}|author= |title=1930 U.S. Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R4L-VY9?i=11&cc=1810731&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ASYLL-JMM |website=FamilySearch |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=December 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=April 17, 1930 |page=6A |id=NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 326, lines 19–21}} {{subscription required}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1930a}}|author= |title=1930 U.S. Census, Statham, Barrow County, Georgia |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR4P-CCY?i=6&cc=1810731&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A393N-RW2 |website=FamilySearch |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=December 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=April 4, 1930 |page=3B |id=NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 337, lines 79–81}} {{subscription required}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Florida Census|1935}}|author= |title=1935 Florida State Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTPX-NK?i=19&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMNVT-GZT |website=FamilySearch |publisher=Florida State Archives |accessdate=December 22, 2020 |location=Tallahassee, Florida |date=1935 |page=19 |id= lines 21–26}} {{subscription required}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|U.S. Census|1940}}|author= |title=1940 U.S. Census, Orlando, Orange County, Florida |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MR-K9CJ?i=33&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVTCH-15Q |website=FamilySearch |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |accessdate=December 22, 2020 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=April 15, 1940 |page=17B-18A |id=NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 326, lines 79–80 and 1–2}} {{subscription required}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Los Angeles Times|1979}}|author= |title=Bill Todman, 62, Producer of TV Game Shows, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65809613/the-los-angeles-times/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=July 31, 1979 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, California |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Palm Beach Daily News|1994}}|author= |title=Fanette Brown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65816861/obituary-for-fanette-b-brown-aged-85/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=March 23, 1994 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach, Florida |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Divorce Records|1932}}|author= |title=Florida Divorce Index: Lucius Holmes Burson/Fannie Lee Burson |url=https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8837/images/FLDIV_0024-0012?pId=1369260 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Florida Department of Health |access-date=December 22, 2020 |location=Orange County, Florida |page=B |date=1932 |id=vol. 39, record 2268}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Orlando Sentinel|1930}}|author= |title=Frances Burson Honoree at Party |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65805221/frances-burson-honoree-at-party-july/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=July 28, 1930 |newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel |location=Orlando, Florida |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Palm Beach Daily News|1981}}|author= |title=Frances Todman Named Chairman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65820611/frances-todman-named-chairman-december/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=December 20, 1981 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach, Florida |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Palm Beach Post|1996}}|author= |title=Invitation Committee Prepares for Palm Beach Heart Ball |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65828556/the-palm-beach-post/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=January 17, 1996 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |location=West Palm Beach, Florida |page=3, Notables Section |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Orlando Evening Star|1950}}|author= |title=Miss Burson, Orlando Girl to Marry New Yorker Dec. 17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65805004/orlando-evening-star/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=November 28, 1950 |newspaper=The Orlando Evening Star |location=Orlando, Florida |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Palm Beach Post|2000}}|author= |title=The Schepens Eye Research Institute |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65827678/the-palm-beach-post/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=January 19, 2000 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |location=West Palm Beach, Florida |page=3, Notables Section |via=Newspapers.com}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|2008}}|author= |title=Todman |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=frances-b-todman&pid=101962925 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=January 27, 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222195745/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=frances-b-todman&pid=101962925 |archive-date=December 22, 2020}}
- {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Palm Beach Daily News|1984}}|author= |title=Todman Foundation Honored for Gift |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65820500/palm-beach-daily-news/ |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=April 18, 1984 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Daily News |location=Palm Beach, Florida |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}
{{refend}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Todman, Frances}}
Category:People from Jackson County, Georgia
Category:People from Orlando, Florida
Category:Philanthropists from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Philanthropists from Florida
Category:Philanthropists from New York (state)