Elizabeth Anne (Sherman) Frindell

Elizabeth Anne Frindell

Elizabeth Anne (Sherman) Frindell, 74, died Saturday, March 13, 2021. Beth was born July 27, 1946, in Portsmouth, VA, to Bernard and Florence (Arnold) Sherman. She attended school in Egypt, the Philippines, and Maryland due to her parents’ Naval careers. She graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD, earned a B.A. in Education with an emphasis on Speech and Drama from the University of Maryland, and two Masters Degrees: one in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University and one in Communications from the University of Washington.

Beth began her career in 1968, teaching English and Forensics and coaching the Drama  program at Montgomery and Magruder High Schools in Rockville, M D. She moved to Bremerton, WA, in 1975. In Washington, she taught English and public speaking at the high school level and at Olympic College. In 1991, she moved to Bakersfield, CA, teaching English at South High School. At South, she helped develop the Tech Prep program to serve students aiming for a career after high school. She was proud to have reinvigorated the debate team at South, coaching two students all the way to Nationals. She retired from teaching in 2008 and moved to Las Vegas, NV.

During her time in Washington, she was an active member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), serving as a state officer in multiple roles and as a floor parliamentarian at the National Convention. While with AAUW, she developed a consulting business, offering workshops in conflict resolution. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Peninsula Dance Theater in Bremerton. While in Bakersfield, she served as her teachers’ union site representative, helping her colleagues deal with contract issues.

Beth loved everything about the performing arts: acting, singing, dancing, costumes, stage management. She directed many shows early in her teaching career and did backstage work  or her children’s performances from elementary school through college. She put her excellent sewing skills to use in costume creation from ballet to student theater productions. She also loved sailing and joined the Ventura Sailing Club, where she sang sea shanties and sailed off the coast of southern California, gathering friends along the way. Having traveled the world as a Navy brat, she sought out more destinations for adventure such as river cruises in Europe.

In Las Vegas, she embraced retirement. She loved acting in student films for the UNLV film department. Her sewing machine produced gorgeous handmade doll clothes that she sold at craft fairs. She took in as many theatrical productions as she could, from community theater to shows on The Strip.

Her students adored her dramatic and colorful personality. She dominated at Scrabble, pursued dancing opportunities in every city she lived in, and loved creating her own fancy ensembles. She looked forward to becoming a grandmother and adored her grandchildren, spending time reading aloud to them and making clothes and blankets for their dolls and stuffed animals.

In 2015, Beth moved to Seattle to be closer to her son and his family. Beth was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Frindell Teuscher, and her husband Kevin of Santa Rosa, CA; her son Alan Frindell and his wife Michelle of Seattle, WA; three grandchildren, Audrey, Theresa, and James Frindell; as well as her two brothers, Arnold and John Sherman and their families.

Beth’s celebration of life will be held at a later date when gathering restrictions are lifted.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.