Some people slow down and reflect on their accomplishments when they get into their 70s; others keep adding to the list.
Fran Ryan has lived in Columbus since 1950, and has been everything from reporter, to public relations professional, to even a Columbus City Council member, all while battling and surviving cancer – twice.
Though she is fond of her professional achievements, her greatest joy is working in areas where people – not politics – are the motivating factor. she has backed and volunteered with organizations like Amethyst, local food pantries, cancer survivor initiatives, and even animal rescue organizations. The desire to help was innate for Fran. she recalls, “Ever since I was a young student, I felt that we should [all] share in the responsibility to make this world … a better place for our children.”
Fran plans to continue raising awareness on the importance of early
detection in breast and colon cancers, helping more with animal rescue, and focusing her efforts on the “jewels of the city”: the senior citizens. Currently she serves as a senior services Coordinator where she addresses housing, health, transportation and safety issues for seniors. With her unwavering commitment to helping others, it seems as she is truly the city’s crown jewel.