Honoring Fran Duvall
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Fran Duvall, who joined my office when I first came to Congress. Fran had worked for my predecessor Sidney R. Yates, who recommended that I hire Fran because of her many talents and her ability to work as a…
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Fran Duvall, who joined my office when I first came to Congress. Fran had worked for my predecessor Sidney R. Yates, who recommended that I hire Fran because of her many talents and her ability to work as a team member.
Fran was kind, sweet, patient, competent and diligent in setting up our operations. She set an early example for my young staff on how to be an effective staffer on Capitol Hill. She was integral in my seamless transition to the House of Representatives and I, like my staff, relied on her guidance. But more importantly, she was progressive, welcoming, and inclusive before that was fashionable. Fran represented the very best of this lnstitution.
I send my deepest condolences to her family and gratitude for sharing her with Team Schakowsky and the House of Representatives. I include in the Record the following obituary, published in the December 5th Washington Post, describing her life of achievement.
Fran Duvall
(1 January 1935--14 May 2022)
The family of Frances Eloise Duvall honors her memory
during this holiday season.
Ms. Duvall was born 1 January 1935 at home in Landover,
Maryland and died 14 May 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. She was
the ninth and last child of Anna Louise (nee Bennett) and
George Paul Duvall and grew up in the nation's capital. After
graduating from Immaculate Conception Academy in 1952, Ms.
Duvall worked as a typist for the Navy Department, as a
secretary with the University of Maryland Engineering
Department and later with the Civil Service Commission.
Ms. Duvall met Keith Daggy in the early 1950s while both
were members of the Bladensburg Skate Club. They were married
in 1956 and, a year later, moved to Waynesboro, VA. There
they had three children, Teresa, Roger, and Mary Helen, who
did not survive a premature birth. Ms. Duvall and Mr. Daggy
divorced in 1976, at which time Ms. Duvall began working
full-time at the University of Virginia while studying at
Mary Baldwin College (now University) in Staunton, earning
her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 1981.
Ms. Duvall then moved back to Washington, DC, where she
worked as the office manager for Representative Sidney R.
Yates, IL, and his successor, Jan Schakowsky, until Ms.
Duvall's retirement in 2001.
The final chapter of Ms. Duvall's life was written at
Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, VA, where
she lived from 2003 until her death. She was deeply involved
in various aspects of the community, particularly the
Greenspring Players, the theatre troupe at the retirement
village. Ms. Duvall served in many capacities: chair, co-
chair, director, producer, prompter, computer support,
publicity, props and cast parties, as well as upgrading and
clarifying policies and procedures for the Players. Ms.
Duvall also created and maintained a scholarship program,
awarding scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students
majoring in all aspects of theatre.
Additionally, Ms. Duvall hosted various shows on the
Village's internal television station and assisted in
producing the station's programs on presidential libraries.
She also created sign language classes at the Village.
Ms. Duvall was a life-long Democrat and vigorously defended
equal rights. She volunteered on Election Day to ensure that
residents could cast their vote.
After attending many memorial services to honor friends who
had passed, Ms. Duvall decided, in January 2020, to celebrate
her 85th birthday with beautiful music performed by her
children and grandchildren and amusing, heartfelt anecdotes
from her friends and loved ones. Ms. Duvall leaves behind her
daughter, Teresa, and granddaughter Zoe, as well as her son,
Roger, his wife Kimberlea, and their children, Maximilian and
Celia.