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Doris G. Frankel, teacher, volunteer

Doris Goodfriend Frankel, 92, of Jenkintown, a former teacher and longtime volunteer for the Philadelphia Orchestra, died Sunday, April 21, of congestive heart failure at home.

Doris G.Frankel
Doris G.FrankelRead more

Doris Goodfriend Frankel, 92, of Jenkintown, a former teacher and longtime volunteer for the Philadelphia Orchestra, died Sunday, April 21, of congestive heart failure at home.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Mrs. Frankel taught second grade at Illman-Carter School, a demonstration program run by the University of Pennsylvania. The school was in the 4000 block of Pine Street in West Philadelphia.

Though it came later in life, Mrs. Frankel found real meaning in volunteer work, said her son, Robert P. Jr.

Following the example of her father-in-law, Bernard L. Frankel, who was on the Philadelphia Orchestra board of directors in the 1960s, Mrs. Frankel gave of her time and energy on the orchestra's behalf.

From 1988 to 1994, she was a member of the board of directors, and after that was cochair of the council of emeritus directors, but she didn't stop there.

She was chairwoman of the Old York Road Committee, one of the regional women's volunteer committees for the orchestra, in the early to mid-1980s.

She chaired the annual giving campaign in the mid- to late 1980s, and was chairwoman of the Philadelphia Orchestra/WFLN Radiothon in 1991.

From 1991 to 1994, she was president of the volunteer committees for the Philadelphia area.

"That was the pinnacle of her work," said her son.

Mrs. Frankel and Polly Newbold, her predecessor as president of volunteers, were the 1995 recipients of the Philadelphia Orchestra Award. The presentation was made by U.S. District Judge Marjorie O. Rendell on the orchestra's opening night that season.

"Yo-Yo Ma played . . . and they showed a video of Polly and my mother talking about the orchestra," her son said. "She was quite elated about the whole thing. She believed she and Polly were chosen to honor volunteerism."

Born in Philadelphia, Mrs. Frankel moved as a young child to Jenkintown, where she spent the rest of her life. She was a 1939 graduate of Jenkintown High School and received a bachelor's degree in education in 1943 from the University of Pennsylvania. She received a master's degree in education from Penn in 1953.

The previous year, she met Robert P. Frankel, a Philadelphia lawyer, through mutual friends. They were married for 57 years. He died in 2010.

In addition to the orchestra, Mrs. Frankel also volunteered with the Women's Board of Abington Hospital, the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service, and Hedwig House, a nonprofit psychiatric rehabilitation agency.

She enjoyed reading, cooking, and baking.

Surviving, in addition to her son., are sons Richard B. and Donald G.; a sister; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St. Interment is private.

Contributions may be made to the Philadelphia Orchestra, 1 S. Broad St., 14th Floor, Philadelphia 19107.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.levinefuneral.com.