Lesley Lee Francis

Dr. Lesley Lee Francis was born June 20, 1931 in Montauk, NY. She died at age 94 on January 2, 2026 at home in Arlington, VA surrounded by family. She and her sister Elinor enjoyed a well-traveled childhood, due to their mother’s various jobs both internationally and in the US at a time when many women did not work outside the home, and contributing to Dr. Francis’ life-long love for Spain. Always an independent and accomplished woman, Dr. Francis attended Radcliffe College (Bachelors 1952), The University of Miami (Masters 1959), and Duke University (Ph.D. 1966 Romance Languages). After more than a decade of teaching Spanish language and literature at the University level, Dr. Francis joined the professional staff of the American Association of University Professors, where she remained for more than 20 years until her retirement in 1996.

As a granddaughter of the poet Robert Frost, Dr. Francis devoted herself to furthering the poet’s legacy through the writing of two books and numerous articles, as well as participating in seminars and conferences and teaching courses to groups of all ages.

Dr. Francis also became an avid masters swimmer in retirement, logging top ten national times in multiple events. She continued to swim regularly until shortly before her passing. As a passionate sports fan, Dr. Francis attended Baltimore Ravens games and closely followed swimming, ice skating, skiing, and cycling, among others.

Dr. Francis is survived by her three daughters Deborah Zimic (Roland Jahn), Kristiana Williams (David Williams) and Melanie Zimic (Isidoro Reverte), six grandchildren (Ryan (Katie Bain), Nathan, and Matthew Williams; Alex, Claudia and Lucas Reverte), and one great-grandchild (Theodore Williams) as well as her sister Elinor Wilber and her children (Marcia, Douglas, Kate, and Prescott). Dr. Francis was predeceased by her mother Lesley Lee Frost and her former husband Dr. Stanislav Zimic. Memorial donations may be made to the Robert Frost Society, https:robertfrostsociety.org.