Former School Board President Fran Kruss Dies

Frances "Fran" Kruss, an advocate for children and health, died recently Mountain View Patch has learned.

While the details of her death are not yet available, Kruss died on Sept. 15, according to the California Locksmith Association. Her husband, Jerry Kruss, is a member and owns Certified Lock & Safe Inc. in Palo Alto.

Fran began her service to the Mountain View community in the 1980s.

A critical care registered nurse, Fran was elected to the Whisman School Board and served from April 1990 until November 1994. In 1995, Representative Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) honored Fran, along with others in education within the 14th congressional district, and read her name into the congresssional record.

Fran served as the district's president in 1999, before the merger with the Mountain View School District—a process she called a "challenge"—and then served as president of the combined Mountain View Whisman School District. She retired as trustee, after a total of 16 years of service to the Whisman School District and Mountain View Whisman School District, in December 2006.

Throughout, Fran found time to serve on the board of directors of the Community Health Awareness Council and as representative of the Santa Clara County School Boards Assoc. for the Whisman School District. She was also a member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Fran is survived by husband Jerry and daughter Jennifer Kruss, a teacher at Palo Alto Community Child Care.