Palladium says goodbye to one of our founders – the caring and dedicated Frances Stavros

With the Palladium’s 20^th anniversary just around the corner, it saddens me that one of our founders and supporters won’t be around for the festivities. Frances Stavros, wife of Gus Stavos, died at the age of 92 on Feb. 4.

 

The Stavros Family, along with the William R. Hough family, and a handful of other community leaders, were the prime movers who purchased the Christian Science Church at 5^th Avenue and 3^rd Street in downtown St. Petersburg, and transformed it into the Palladium Theater. The first season was in 1998.

 

 

The Stavros’ son, Paul, stepped in as the first executive director, back at a time when the duties ranged from planning upcoming shows, managing a small staff, and everything else, including buying toilet paper for the bathrooms.

 

When I arrived almost 10 years ago, Paul offered good advice on managing the theater. And Gus and Frances were still very active. I remember meeting Frances at a Veteran’s Day concert where she wore her Nave WAVEs uniform from World War II – a uniform that still fit her.

 

I still remember her standing when they asked uniformed service members to be recognized. She stood and waved, a beautiful smile filling her face.

 

A few years later, Gus had underwritten a concert by his former college classmate, the great pianist Dick Hyman. But the family had a conflict and missed the show. I few weeks later, I arranged with Dick to stop for lunch on his way from Venice, Florida to the Tampa Airport.

 

We had lunch brought in and a table set on the Hough Hall stage. My wife and I shared lunch with Gus, Frances and Dick, and afterwards Dick played a selection of American Songbook standards as Frances beamed in appreciation.

 

There was  a wonderful obituary in the TBTimes that tells the story of how the couple met and their long commitment to this community.

 

I will always remember the beautiful woman in the Navy uniform smiling and waving before a full house in the theater she helped create.

 

I send my best to her husband and her children. Her’s was indeed a wonderful life.