By Daniel Staffenberg,
CEO, Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
Dear Friends,
“Frances and Sydney Lewis have long been synonymous with caring, giving, and doing in the Jewish community of Richmond,” wrote Hortense Wolf many years ago in The Reflector.
Today, we share with deep sadness the passing of Frances Lewis this past Shabbat - January 10 - at the age of 103.
Frances and her beloved husband, Sydney, met in college and together built a life of vision, love and generosity. They founded Best Products, a pioneering catalog retail chain that operated for four decades and was publicly traded on the NASDAQ. Their entrepreneurial spirit was matched only by their commitment to Jewish community, education, and others, leaving an indelible mark on our community.
Frances is survived by her daughter, Susan Lewis Butler (Dixon) of Washington, D.C.; two sons, Sydney Lewis Jr. of Miami Beach, FL, and Andrew Marc Lewis (Virginia “Ginny”) of Richmond and Lake Worth Beach, FL; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild who carry forward her legacy of love and generosity.
Frances was passionate about Jewish life and became a driving force behind numerous philanthropic endeavors, both Jewish and secular, throughout Virginia. She and Sydney were significant supporters of many nonprofit organizations locally and nationally.
Within the Jewish community, their generosity shaped the future of organizations such as the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Weinstein JCC, Jewish Family Services, and Hillel at Washington and Lee, among many others.
In The Center - From Generation to Generation, published by the Weinstein JCC in 2017, a section recognizes Frances and Sydney Lewis and their long support of the Center. “Devoted and generous supporters, Frances and Sydney Lewis worked diligently to establish the Monument Avenue location and to further all of its programs. In the late 1980s, the swimming pool was refurbished and named in honor of Frances, an avid swimmer and advocate for the JCC Aquatics Program.”
In 1994, Sydney and Frances Lewis were honored by the Federation with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In an article in The Reflector, it said, in part, “Many different causes and activities attracted the Lewis’ attention and support over the years, but they never forgot the Richmond Jewish Community. For many years, Sydney and Frances carried our Jewish community on their very broad shoulders. Now the ‘trees’ that they have planted have matured and are protecting our Jewish soil with their deep roots.”
Frances and Sydney were renowned art collectors whose vision transformed public access to contemporary art. A chance exchange in the early 1960s—a color television and vacuum from Best Products for a silkscreen portrait by Andy Warhol—sparked a lifelong passion. Over the decades, they amassed a collection of contemporary and decorative arts unrivaled by many, ultimately donating more than 1,500 pieces and generously supporting the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the 1980s.
Frances embodied the Jewish ideals of tzedakah (righteous giving) and chesed (loving-kindness), using her blessings to uplift others and strengthen our community. Her passion for art reflected the principle of hiddur mitzvah, finding holiness in beauty and elevating the sacred through creativity. As Pirkei Avot teaches, “The world stands on three things: Torah, service, and acts of kindness.” Frances lived this truth, enriching the world through her philanthropy and cultural contributions.
Her legacy will endure l’dor v’dor—from generation to generation—in the institutions she supported and in the hearts of all who knew her. Yehi zichrah baruch—may her memory be a blessing.
Details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared soon. In the meantime, we invite you to join us in celebrating her extraordinary life and the indelible mark she left on our community.
There will be a private funeral followed by a Celebration of Life later in the year.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond here, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Frances Lewis Law Center at Washington and Lee University or any charity of your choice.
May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her and her family be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion.