Frances Pedrick Benz

Frances Pedrick Benz ISLE OF PALMS - Frances died peacefully on Friday, September 6, 2013, at her home on the Isle of Palms. She is survived by her husband, John Christopher Benz, and her son, Gilbert Frederick Benz. Born February 18, 1928, Frances was the only child of Gilbert S. and Katherine Garis Pedrick of Trenton, New Jersey. Early on, Frances was passionately drawn to two lifelong interests: swimming and dance. From Lifeguard to Water Safety Instructor, she remained an avid swimmer, completing 30 laps a day at age 84. Early ballet training gave way quickly to the energy and innovation of modern dance. Formal training included a B.A. in Dance from Miami University Ohio (1949), an M.A. in Education at New York University (1951), and classes in technique with modern dance pioneer, Martha Graham. While in New York, a burgeoning relationship with John Christopher Benz led to marriage. The couple had two children relatively early in the marriage, Kurt Christian (1954) and Gilbert Frederick (1958). Meanwhile, Frances embarked on a long, productive career teaching dance and physical education at several universities, including the University of South Carolina (USC). Later in life, armed with a Certificate in Library Science from USC (1971), Frances became the first Media Specialist at Belle Hall Elementary in Charleston. She was also very active as a Storyteller at the Bible School of the Church of the Holy Cross on Sullivan's Island. After retirement, Miss Fran was instrumental in launching the Holy Cross Library. In many ways, this project was iconic, since it combined her love of children with a strong dedication to education. As she once wrote: "It gives me goose bumps to see the signs of recognition, of knowing, of learning, on the beautiful faces of the future." She felt truly blessed to be a teacher, to "help light a light and keep it burning." Long before any public discussion of women grappling with work-life balance, she successfully balanced not one but several careers, raised two boys and built a lifelong love affair and working partnership with her husband and best friend. Her personal, spiritual and motivational impact is widespread and lasting. Vibrant, vivacious and deeply spiritual, she is perhaps best known as someone who loved people, saw only the best in others and wanted to help them achieve their full potential. She will be sadly missed by her family, friends and all who were blessed to have met and be touched by her. Frances, now dancing in Heaven, "Run, Run, Leap!" A memorial service in tribute to Frances Pedrick Benz will be held at the Church of Holy Cross on Sullivan's Island on Saturday, September 14 at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be sent to support the library at the Church of the Holy Cross.