I am sad to report that Mary Jane Frankel passed away on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
I became acquainted with Mary Jane when I reviewed programs at Le Dome nightclub at the top of The Manor restaurant in West Orange for Worrall Community Newspapers. She was always kind and warm to guests and critics alike and made both feel welcome. She will be missed.
Born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1936, Mary Jane survived the Holocaust by hiding in a convent with other Jewish children. She and her parents came to the United States in 1949 and settled in New Jersey. She graduated from Woodbridge High School and later lived in Maplewood, Livingston and Verona.
Mary Jane was most recently the Director of Public Relations for The Manor, Highlawn Pavilion and Rams Head Inn in New Jersey. A talented food writer and promoter, she won many awards for her work in advertising, including a CLIO in 1986. She was an avid theater lover and chanteuse and performed with both community and professional companies, including The Strollers of Maplewood and the Paper Mill Playhouse.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
