Donald L. Franson
1916-2002
Condolences from Poland
  

The following is an open letter written by Richard Jasinski to members of the National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F), a long-lived correspondence club of science fiction fans, shortly after the death of my uncle Donald Franson in June 2002. (Below, "prozines" is short for professional science fiction magazines; "fanzines" is short for fan-published magazines or newsletters.) In the course of his decades-long active membership, Don Franson held all of the N3F club offices: President, Editor, and so on, many more than once or simultaneously. In addition he did private good deeds for fans who needed help for various reasons. I did not know of these during his lifetime.

To me he also was a personal exemplar that real people could write science fiction. This went a long way toward shaping my own life. He was a great guy. — The Editor
  

  
I received the following email today. It should surely be held up as an inspiration for everything that fandom can and should aspire to. Not only do we look to the future, we can make the future happen today. Don certainly did us all very proud. — Laura Hazelwood
  

September 19, 2002
  

Dear Friends,

Looking for Don Franson's address eventually I succeeded to find the saddest news I could expect that great personality in International fandom and my personal friend died.

Nothing else since Sept. 11 shocked me so much. Don was my teacher and friend though we lived apart divided by the vast Atlantic.

When I heard of N3F approx. 23 years ago he gave me a hand, covered my membership and encouraged me to write both in English and Polish. Thanks to him I joined various panels of N3F and I was introduced to wonderful folks in American fandom. Since 1977 I started to write for fandom and prozines all over the world.

Thanks to his friendly attitude and understanding folks from the World fandom helped me and my family to survive the worst days of martial law in 1980s Poland. He arranged parcels with food to be sent to me and fandom people from the USA, Holland, Finland, Sweden to buy my articles and finally to know writers, fans, publishers.

Thanks to him people from Poland could learn what real fandom is. I published several fanzines in Poland and other folks followed.

Indirectly we succeeded to put the communism down. And believe me if there were no such wonderful people like Don access to free speech, advise on how to handle illegal publications that kept people informed what democracy was would have taken many more years.

His share is unbelievable, but it was like the drops of water — it crushed the rock of inhuman regime.

I and hundreds of people in Poland will miss him and remember for good.

Yours,

Richard

Richard P Jasinski
SF writer and translator