Fran’s Folly Trust

Frances P. Fitzgibbons

August 31, 1944 — December 28, 2022

Born the only child of Aldora and Francis Patrick Fitzgibbons on August 31, 1944 (in San

Francisco, CA), Frances Patricia was a native of Northern California, leaving the state for only a

few years in her early childhood to reside in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a youth, her deep

love of horses was undeniable. Frances was known to ride her horse, “Fairy,” from Colma to

Stonestown, in South San Francisco, hitch the horse, have a meal, and then ride back home.

In 1962, Frances and her parents moved to Pepper Lane in Petaluma, California. Frances

would regularly load “Apollo” into a trailer, drive to the beach, where the two would enjoy long

rides, swim, and play in the ocean until sunset. A loyal and helpful daughter, Frances was

dedicated to her parents, nursing them lovingly until their deaths. At that point, she stayed on at

Pepper Road, caring for the land and living out her days there.

Frances led a bright and vibrant life. Not only did she work as a trainer for race horses and a

caregiver for local horses, but she also had a short career as a Go-Go dancer, and was known

to sneak away to Reno where she could be found at the blackjack tables!

Frances’ love of animals of all kinds was obvious as she referred to them as her children. Every

chicken (more than 20 of them) had a name, received fresh foods, roamed the property, and

enjoyed regular cuddles. Frances would tend to her hummingbirds and spent hours each week

concocting the best nectar for multiple feeders on the property so the birds would never go

hungry. Horses, however, was most dear to her heart. A friend recalled: one afternoon, when

she was riding Apollo, the horse fell on her leg. Frances was more concerned about Apollo and

attended to him before getting to the hospital to get her own broken leg cast. Frances and any

horse had an immediate connection—she spoke the language of horses and they felt a kindred

spirit in her.

Frances was a woman of the land. She grew her own food, cared for her animals, and protected

her property. At the same time, she was a vibrant and stylish woman who would often step out

in bright clothing, cowboy boots, silver belt buckles adorned with horses, scarves, brooches or

other beautiful jewelry, and sunglasses. Frances was a beauty.

Described by her friends as “courageous, vibrant, altruistic, loyal, hard-headed, affable,

gorgeous, gracious, opinionated, benevolent, and exotic,” Frances had a truth and beauty in her

soul that was irrefutable. She was not shy about saying that it was easiest for her to love

animals, yet she had a magnificent way of touching the hearts of those who called her a friend.

You are missed, Frances.

*****

Frances P. Fitzgibbons did not have any living relatives. Her estate, that she humorously named

the Fran’s Folly Trust, has bequeathed more than 70% of total assets to horse sanctuaries in

the Northern California area so that these beautiful creatures can live out their days peacefully.

Frances, forever the guardian of the horse.