Frances Neu

NEU, Frances Zacharias passed away on June 30, 2023, at the age of 66 after a 22-year battle with breast cancer. Daughter of Constantine Zacharias and Katherine Dieni Zacharias, Frances was born in Portsmouth, NH and moved to Clearwater, FL as a young child. Frances graduated from Clearwater High School before attending St. Petersburg College and later earning her Bachelor of Science in Communication and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Florida. After graduation, Frances became Public Affairs Coordinator, Producer, and On-Air Talent at Vision Cable, the local cable channel of Pinellas County covering government, art, sports, and community events. It was there she met her husband, Jack. Frances then went on to become House Manager at Ruth Eckerd Hall Performing Arts Center, bringing in top performers of the day including Liberace, Lucille Ball, Tom Jones, and David Copperfield. Her fundraising career began as the Head of Corporate Giving at Morton Plant Hospital Foundation. From there Frances found her passion as an advocate for education, particularly among those less fortunate, at the Pinellas County Education Foundation where she became President. She was integral in the advancement of the Doorways Scholarship Program and Enterprise Village. Frances was the force behind the creation of Finance Park, an experiential learning center that provides 8th grade students hands-on lessons in personal financial management, which has been replicated around the world. Frances expanded her support of educational opportunities for youth across four continents through her role as Vice President of Development for Junior Achievement Worldwide and then focused her sights once again on her local community as Executive Director of the St. Petersburg College Foundation until her retirement in 2019. Over her lifetime Frances raised approximately $100 million for education. She believed in the transformative power of education and worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to learn and grow. Her passion for travel, cooking, music, art, theater, and gardening were all second to her love for her family. After her initial battle with breast cancer, Frances took a brief break form her career during which she began modeling and acting, appearing as a credited actress in the 2004 remake of the Manchurian Candidate starting Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. Frances was a member of numerous boards of directors during her lifetime, including serving as a charter member of the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund. Her smile and her loving spirit filled every room she entered. Her incredibly limitless love, guidance, and compassion will be missed by family and friends. Frances is survived by her husband of 37 years, John "Jack" Neu; children, Alexis and Parker; son-in-law, John Cox; and grandson, Jackson. A celebration of life will be held at a later date; please reach out to the family for further information. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pinellas County Education Foundation, St. Petersburg College Foundation, or Free Fall Theater of St. Petersburg. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she touched, in the lives she changed, and in the world she made a better place.