Frances R. Tucker, music teacher

FRANCES Russell Tucker remembered riding the Broad Street Subway to Temple University in the '40s with four $50 bills pinned inside her blouse.

The money was her tuition in the days when Temple tuition was $200 a year, and she was very nervous. In her imagination, thieves were everywhere. But she made it and continued her musical education studies.

Frances, who taught piano at the Settlement Music School and privately for some 25 years, died Sunday. She was 80 and lived in Wyncote.

She was born in Philadelphia to Samuel and Leza Russell. She graduated from Overbrook High School and went on to Temple, graduating in 1947.

An exceptionally talented classical pianist, Frances had early dreams of studying at Curtis and becoming a concert pianist. But it was the Depression and there was no money in the family for that kind of education.

While at Temple, she met a young clarinetist named John Foster Tucker Jr. World War II was raging, and Temple was practically an all-girl school. John, who was a polio survivor and rated 4-F by the draft, had his pick of the girls, and he picked Frances.

He died in October 2005. They would have been married 60 years ago this week, said her daughter, Margaret Plotkin.

After college, Frances taught music in Camden High School. But that lasted only until she became pregnant with her son in 1949 and she was fired. No pregnant teachers were allowed in high schools in those days.

She began teaching piano at her home or at her students' homes before starting at Settlement about 1970. She taught classes and individuals. She retired in the mid-'90s.

As a child, Margaret liked to listen to her mother practicing in their home. She was stunned by her talent and believes that she really could have become a classical music performer.

Her mother never got over her husband's death. She was periodically depressed and eventually went into decline. About two weeks ago, she entered a hospital at the urging of her family and under orders from her doctor.

She was found to be suffering from a number of ailments but when they discovered cancer, she announced that she wanted to die, her daughter said.

She was transferred to the Unitarian-Universalist House in Germantown, where she was a board member. She died there.

She was a member of the Unitarian Church of Germantown.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by her son, John Foster Tucker III and three grandchildren.

Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Bringhurst Funeral Chapel in West Laurel Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in the cemetery. *