By Kathy McGee Burns
When I think of Mary Frances Fogg, whom I dearly love and respect, I think of the phrase “indomitable spirit.” If you look up this term you would see that it is defined as “a spirit that cannot be subdued or overcome; unconquerable, impossible to defeat”. Some synonyms would be virtuous, upright, decent, and honorable.
Now, she would be kicking and screaming at me for saying this but I’m not the only who does. Her son, Jason, said, “She has the strength of 10 lions, is forthright in her ideologies and will fight for the cause she believes in.”
Mary Fogg or Frassee (as she’s known) is being honored at the 15th Annual Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame award dinner. She is the daughter of Helen McCann (Port Richmond) and William Fogg (Kensington).Helen, who attended Moore College of Art was a musician (violin and piano) and an artist. Her Dad played AAA professional baseball (Phillies, Red Sox).
Frassee attended Holy Innocents School and Little Flower (ask her about the “Detention” sign she stole and now parades around at each reunion).
When she was a young child, her grandparents, John and Anna Hughes McCann, always took her to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She loved watching the little girls do Irish dancing. Fogg, who is now the first Vice president of the parade committee, laughingly remembers that her Grandmother thought that the people who ran the parade were “blue bloods.”
Mary Fogg, who is quite humble, told me that she was surprised when two little dancers from the parade recognized her and asked if they could have their picture taken with her.
Jason Fogg told me that when his mother told him she was being honored by the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame (on November 15), she immediately called him in shock. She says she doesn’t need recognition for things she’s meant to do.
Speaking of Jason, Frassee said, “Being a mother and raising a successful son is my greatest accomplishment and may have been my hardest. Seeing him become the man he is today is so gratifying that maybe I did an okay job.”
She has a sweet grandson, Jase, and is expecting a second one in October. Frassee says she couldn’t imagine their family without her wonderful daughter-in Law, Kim.
Mary Frances Fogg is director of government relations and wage compliance at the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. She started out as a clerk typist in 1985 and now works closely with elected officials, building trades and construction companies and many politicians.
As a member of the parade board, she organizes one of the biggest fundraisers that kick offs the March event. People show up for her and Irish bands rally to the cause. No one says no to Mary Frances Fogg. Last year, 812 people attened the event at Fraternal Order of Police Hall in Northeast Philadelphia to hear Jamison, the Bogside Rogues, Ray Coleman, Celtic Connection, Irish Need Not Apply, Luke Jardel and the Hooligans, Billy McGovern, The Shantys and to watch Chrissy Zeo’s Celtic Flame Irish Dancers.
One of her great loves is the seashore, where she spends most of her summer weekends. As a child, she says, she would sit at the shoreline and wonder how the waves would roll in and go out. As she got older, she realized, “that is was just another one of God’s miracles.” Once she’s down the shore, she says, all her problems and stress are on the Pennsylvania side of the bridge.
Frassee has also worked as a bartender for many years, collecting friends and doling out good advice. Ever heard of the FOF club? That stands for Friends of Frassee. I’m happy to say I’m a member. She says she thinks of her friends as the family she chose for herself.
Here is what some of her FOF fans said about her:
Frank Daly of Jamison: “She can passionately listen when you need an ear and in the next breath tell to shut up when you’re being stupid.”
Chris Phillips of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee: “Mary Frances Fogg says being Philadelphia Irish is being Philadelphia Irish 365 days of the year.”
John O’Callaghan of Jamison: “If there is an event, function, benefit or any other Irish gathering, you are sure to see her spreading cheer and supporting in any way Mary can.”
And me: “Mary Frances Fogg is one of the most sincere women I know. She is pretty as a picture, tough as nails, true in her heart and a source of love to all who know her”.
