Francine Joyce Latimer's Obituary
Francine Joyce Latimer died in her home on April 29 after a yearlong battle with smooth leiomyosarcoma cancer. Her warmth, compassion and intelligence will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Francine was born in 1949 in her mother’s 7th month of pregnancy in Callicoon, New York, but raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Central Dolphin East High School in 1967. She attended the University of Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor of Arts in German with a minor in French in 1971. After college she lived in several places including the Philippines and Hawaii.
It was in Hawaii that she discovered what eventually would become her career. While working as a travel agent with the Mackenzie Travel Agency, she was chosen to be trained in computer programming. Her people skills combined with these technical abilities proved to be her niche. She moved to Monterey California working as a computer programmer/system analyst at the Firestone Corporation.
She came home to the East Coast in 1979 and went to work for Compuware consulting. It was at Compuware that she met Harry Latimer and they worked together for about two years becoming close friends. In 1982, Harry with a partner started Lamarian Systems Inc. a software development company specializing in international trade documentation. She helped grow Lamarian Systems into a thriving company, serving as Vice President of Operations from 1982 to 1992. At the same time Francine and Harry’s friendship developed into a romance and they were married in September, 1984. They eventually settled in Annapolis, Maryland and made a home there. Together, they traveled the world and shared in the struggles and triumphs of growing an international business. In 1990 they sold Lamarian Systems to Nynex which eventually became Verizon. They retired in 1992.
Outside of her professional career, Francine was a lover of (good) food and (great) wine. You would always find her alongside Harry teaching wine classes for Anne Arundel Community College and helping him search for wines for their serious wine collection. She was also a talented vocalist and was lead singer in several classic rock bands, including Red Right Return. Many Friday and Saturday nights you could find Francine on stage with the band, playing gigs all around the Annapolis area. All of these passions she shared with her husband Harry, whom she referred to as ‘her bass player’. Francine also served on the board of directors of Annapolis Seniors Incorporated, was a member of the Annapolis Senior Center and the Admirals of Annapolis Yacht Club.
It’s an often used phrase that someone is the ‘nicest person you’ve ever met’, but with Francine it was actually true. She had an innate ability to relate to people and bring out the best in them.
Francine is survived by her husband Harry, her mother Ethel Yesser, her step-children Shannon Stoughton and husband Jason and Brande Myers and husband Scott, her five grandchildren Dylan, David, Stephen, Campbell and Braileigh, and three great grandchildren Sophie, Elijah and Noah.
A Visitation of Life will be held at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care 814 Bestgate Rd. Annapolis, MD on Monday, May 9, 2016 between the hours of 2 - 4 pm and 6 – 8 pm. A Ceremony will begin the following morning at 11am at Lasting Tributes. Burial will be at Bestgate Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made at: https://www.crowdrise.com/Team-Francine--The-Rockstar/fundraiser/shannonstoughton
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