December 8, 2014
Early Student Frances Thompson Passes Away

SFZC alumnus Frances Anne Thompson passed away November 28 in San Francisco. Fran was an early student of Suzuki Roshi, the second tenzo (head of kitchen) at Tassajara, and the illustrator of the first Tassajara Bread Book.

Fran at Crissy Field, SF 2014

Fran at Crissy Field, SF 2014

She maintained her connection with Zen Center, having participated even last month in the Sangha Project workshops, and occasionally attending Thursday evening meditation at City Center in recent years.

She is remembered fondly at Zen Center, and will be dearly missed.

Please visit Fran’s page on cuke.com, set up by David Chadwick, for more information on Fran, some of her illustrations, and a full obituary.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 2 pm in Mill Valley at the Muir Woods Park Community Association Clubhouse. More details to come—please contact Molly Tenenbaum at mbtenny@gmail.com to indicate your interest in attending.

(L to R) First row: Suzuki Roshi, Tatsugami Roshi, Yoshimura Sensei, Fran Thompson, Maggie Kress; second row: Paul Discoe, Jane (?), Peter Schneider, Dan Welsh, Nils Holm.

(L to R) First row: Suzuki Roshi, Tatsugami Roshi, Yoshimura Sensei, Fran Thompson, Maggie Kress; second row: Paul Discoe, Jane Schneider, Peter Schneider, Dan Welsh, Nils Holm. (Tassajara, 1970 or 1971.)