Fran Crawford retires after
21 years of service to the School of Dentistry
by Christy K. Robinson
How could the photo at right possibly be 50 years old, you wonder when
you look at Fran Crawford today. Her hair is a little shorter, that's
all!
 |
|
| Fran and James Crawford, 1950 |
Fran Crawford, department secretary in orthodontics, has retired after
more than 21 years of service to the School of Dentistry. It would have
been more years, surely, if she had not spent years in Kentucky, Bangkok,
Boston, and Pago Pago. (Read more about the James and Fran Crawford history
in the Summer 1999
issue of DENTISTRY journal.
Fran is married to James Crawford, SD'60, MPH, executive associate dean
of the School of Dentistry.
During those "foreign" (outside Loma Linda) postings, Fran worked
as a medical secretary at Bangkok Sanitarium and Hospital, for New England
Memorial Hospital in Boston, and for a doctor's office. She worked part-time
and took summers off to take care of their two children.
In 1978, Fran began working as part-time secretary in the School of Dentistry's
department of orthodontics, and during other work hours, as a "floater"
secretary for other departments within Loma Linda University.
"It's been a great place to work," says Fran. "I've learned
a lot, and really enjoyed it. The ortho faculty have all been so nice
to me, and we've had a pleasant working relationship all these years."
After a short time, Fran's job became a full-time position.
Orthodontics is the largest advanced education program in the School of
Dentistry, according to Fran, and "we've had to organize well. I
set up forms and files, organize the applications and data, then graph
the data. There are about 350 to 400 requests for applications each year,
and 75 to 80 completed application packages. From these, the committee
chooses six grad ortho students."
Fran says she compiles the GRE scores, undergraduate and dental school
GPA scores, class standings, and recommendations, then graphs them and
puts them on overhead projections for the committee to more easily evaluate
and sift through the daunting pile of information.
 |
|
| Dr. Joseph Caruso and Fran Crawford enjoy a joke on Fran's last day of work before retirement. Dr. Caruso says, "There is hardly a process, policy, procedure and lecture that doesn't have her direct participation. I speak for the faculty when I say we couldn't have done it without Fran." |
During her final days of full-time work in the department, Fran was shadowed by her successor, who was learning the ropes of daily business.
Joseph Caruso, DDS, MS, MPH, chair of the department of orthodontics, says, "If Fran takes on a task, it's going to get done. She performs to the highest level.
"I've known her since 1978," Dr. Caruso continues. "I've never seen her lose control or say a bad word about anyone, even in her stressful job. She's trained a lot of secretaries, and she trained me in the finer workings and procedures of the School. Fran has had a major effect on how the department runs. About 250 orthodontists owe their success to Fran -- she's had a part in getting them where they are."
"Fran's been a faithful, behind-the-scenes worker for many years," says Florence Wetmore, Dr. James Crawford's secretary.
On many vacations and weekends, Fran and her husband have been avid birdwatchers. Fran says she has spotted birds in Mexico, Peru, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, American Samoa, and Australia, as well as many places in America.
Many people look forward to their retirement years as a time of rest and relaxation, sleeping late in the morning, pursuing hobbies, and maybe watching TV. But when retirement comes, insist retirement "veterans," they work harder than they ever did for the paycheck.
Fran has plans!
"Number one," she enumerates, "I'm going to be doing a lot more birdwatching. We'll be traveling. We're going to Hawaii and birding before and after the big meetings in October [ADA and NASDAD]."
Number two, Fran wants to put more time into music. She plays the piano, but in her love of classical music, she has taken years of vocal instruction. She has sung in choirs since her teens, and is now a member of the Redlands Community Chorus, which sings the annual Feast of Lights at the University of Redlands.
"Number three," she continues, "I like to do yard work. We have berries, fruit trees, roses, and annuals. I'd like to re-do our yard in low-maintenance xeriscape that will attract birds and butterflies."
Fran would like to organize her household better, put her bird lists on computer, and see her family more.
So -- no TV for Fran in her retirement. With her gardening, birdwatching, walking two to three miles each morning (you know the early riser sees the early bird that catches the worm), and spending time with her grandchildren, and with the first great-grandchild arriving in January 2000, Fran will be very occupied.
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised
February 28, 2001
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http://www.llu.edu