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It was hard to think of one without the other, their family and colleagues said of Frances and Gus Stavros, whose philanthropic contributions played a vital role in shaping the education system in Pinellas County.
"They were the perfect pair," Ellen Stavros said of her parents.
"They were the greatest team in history," said Bob McIntyre, chairman of the Pinellas Education Foundation.
When Frances Stavros died at age 92 on Feb. 4, her daughter said, one of her greatest sadnesses would have been knowing Gus would have to carry on without his wife of 68 years and 11 months.
When Gus first saw Frances in a bowling alley in New Jersey when the two were in high school, he knew that was the girl he wanted to marry, Ellen said.
Gus enlisted in the army during World War II, and as soon as Frances was old enough, she joined the Navy WAVEs and was stationed in Jacksonville, something she was proud of, Ellen said. She also served as a flight attendant - then called stewardesses - for Eastern Airlines. During the war, Gus and Frances kept in touch through letters and after the war, they completed their education at Columbia...