Trustees Honor Roll

Sylvester, Frances

Vocalist, Music Director and Broadcaster (1924)
Inducted on November 27, 1999

Frances "Franca" Rosenberger Sylvester spent her life at the forefront promoting American-Slovenian culture in Western Pennsylvania. Singing as a child at the Slovenian Home on Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Frances advanced to the Rosmarin Singing Society as a teen before finding her niche singing with Stella Petz for over twenty years as the featured vocal duet with Fred Gregorich and the Del-Fi's as well as other Cleveland-Style orchestras. After Stella's passing, Franca carried on the tradition with Millie Smolkovitch and as a prominent member of the Hermine Button Box Club. Giving back to the community, Franca taught Slovenian at a local community college, served as the director of the Junior Reveliers Children's Chorus, and co-hosted the Slovene Radio Hour on Pittsburgh's WPIT beginning in the mid-1980's.