Linda "Ann" Frank

Born June 20, 1947 to Maurice Meyer Frank and Ada Pauline McCormick Frank, Ann Frank spent her early years in Cherokee, Oklahoma and Kiowa, Kansas where her family owned and operated a general store called The Dixie Store. She moved often with her family and ended up graduating from high school in Grand Junction, Colorado. Young Ann rode in the back of pickup trucks, feared the chickens, and enjoyed the company of her grandmothers, both of whom assumed active roles in rearing Ann and her younger sister, Maggie.  Ann was particularly notorious for climbing the windmill.

She was an adventurer, both in the earthly and spiritual senses. Her mother was Protestant and her father was Jewish, but as a young adult she became so fascinated by Catholicism that she entered the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Kansas. During her time in the convent, Ann became a registered nurse. But she felt ill-suited to the profession, and left the order to earn her PhD in psychology from The Fielding Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She moved to Colorado Springs in 1980 and went on to practice psychotherapy for the next 25 years. 

Ann lived most of her adult life in Colorado Springs, and she spent much of her free time exploring the Southwest. Roving in her trusted (though not necessarily trustworthy) blue International Scout, Ann drove the jeep roads in the San Juan’s and climbed the ladders of New Mexico kivas, slept on the ground in Canyon de Chelly, and enjoyed the starry display above the campgrounds of Chaco Canyon. Ann felt a particular spiritual attachment to Mesa Verde National Park, a place she visited time and again. She paddled her canoe down the Green River on a week-long solo adventure and twice rafted through the Grand Canyon. On one of those Grand Canyon excursions, a string quartet rafted with them and provided daily music in some of the beautiful side canyons. She loved camping and when she was no longer able to camp, she and Diana DiMara, her beloved partner of 26 years, would roast marshmallows over the flame of an indoor candle and eat s'mores.

When she wasn't camping, she and Diana traveled in the USA and abroad. Among the European countries, Italy was her favorite, but Ann's passport revealed travels to Russia, Egypt, Africa. and Manitoba, Canada where she observed polar bears from the safety of a 'Polar Rover. She also loved all things British and Queenly and was at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee waving with thousands of admirers as the Queen floated by on her royal barge.

Ann pursued every form of classical, liturgical, and operatic music, all of which she supported through her generous philanthropy and community involvement. She was a member of the Colorado Springs Chorale and Soli Deo Gloria (one of her lifetime thrills was singing with this group at Carnegie Hall in New York City.) She also sang in the Colorado College Community Choir and traveled nationally and internationally singing with the Berkshire Choral Festival. Choirs benefited from her smooth Alto voice. Whether seated in the audience or standing on the stage singing, her enthusiasm for and interest in music never wavered.

Ann Frank is survived by her partner, Diana DiMara of Colorado Springs, her sister, Maggie Koppenaal (Ken Koppenaal ) of Cherokee Oklahoma, brother Jonathon Frank (North Frank) of Moab, Utah, nephews Josh Koppenaal of Oklahoma City and Jeremy Koppenaal of Yukon, Oklahoma, Amanda Bocox, great nephew Dominic Bocox, great nieces Abigail and Sophia Bocox, all of Enid, Oklahoma, and devoted friend, Marsha Sterling of Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Colorado Springs Choral (P.O.Box 2304, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901.)

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