Frances Richards Hesselbein was born on November 1, 1915, in Johnstown, PA. She passed away quietly in her home in Easton, PA, on December 11, 2022. Throughout her 107 years, Frances proudly proclaimed she was from Johnstown, PA, a "big steel, big coal, big labor, big heart" town.

Throughout her life in leadership, Hesselbein's motto was "To serve is to live," which she exemplified by her actions and what she gave to others. She led Girl Scout troop 17 in Johnstown and went on to lead the Girl Scouts of America.  She also served and led in multiple other ways, including as CEO of the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non-Profit Management and the editor in chief of the award winning  Leader-to-Leader  journal. She also served as the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Hesselbein served on multiple boards including Pennsylvania Power and Light, Mutual of America, The Bright China Foundation. She chaired the United Way of Central Pennsylvania. Hesselbein was invited to the Whitehouse by 7 different Presidents. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton in 1998. She was appointed to the Presidential Commissions on National and Community Service by President George W. Bush in 1992 and 1993.  She was the 9  ^th  woman on a Fortune 1,000 board, the first woman chair of a United Way campaign, and the first woman to serve on the New York Stock Exchange.  Hesselbein also received twenty-two honorary doctoral degrees, including one from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

As she spoke about Johnstown, Hesselbein often shared stories of family.  Her maternal grandfather—Justice of the Peace and owner of a men's clothing store in Johnstown—died "in office" at age 98. Frances remembered his words well: "Age is irrelevant, it is what we do with our lives that counts." It is her grandfather's organ that now sits in the Carnegie Library of the Flood Museum of Johnstown.  Her maternal grandmother, Sadie Pringle Wicks, was the person she frequently cited as having had the greatest influence on her life and work. "Mama Wicks" helped instill in Hesselbein a deep respect for diversity, and a powerful sense of history and service.

Her father, Burgess Harmon Richards served in the Army and had great respect for the military.  He later became one of the first state police officers in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Her paternal grandfather, the Reverend Orphanus Quincy Adams Richards was an ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ Church whose sermons were "soaring, masterful and poignant,"

Hesselbein married John Hesselbein also a Johnstown native and a a reporter for the  Johnstown Democrat  . After he volunteered for the Navy, they opened a photography studio in Johnstown, PA—Hesselbein Studios and made award-winning documentaries. The young couple also became deeply community-minded—John was invited by the governor to be a member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the family joined the NAACP.

Every morning prior to the pandemic, centenarian Frances Hesselbein would leave her New York City apartment on East 57th Street and travel six blocks south to her office to serve at the Frances Hesselbein Leadership forum.

Frances Hesselbein was predeceased by her husband, siblings, and son.   She is survived by two nieces, one nephew, one grandson, and three great grandchildren.

Relatives, friends and colleagues are invited to call on Thursday, December 29, 2022 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM in Franklin Street United Methodist Church, 501 Locust St., Johnstown, PA where the funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM.  Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Schmidt Funeral Home, PC, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth, PA.  Condolences may be offered at schmidtfuneralhomepc.com

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the  Hesselbein Global Academy  , the  Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum  at the University of Pittsburgh or to  The Girl Scouts of America.   

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Frances Hesselbein, a Johnstown native, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and model of servant leadership passed away on the morning of December 11, 2022.   She was 107 years young, loved by all, served every day of her life, and has influenced multiple generations around the globe.