- Date Of Birth: April 29, 1953
- Date Of Death: October 11, 2016
- State: Georgia
Molly Sasse French, 63, passed away on October 11 at her home in Chattanooga from complications of cancer.
Molly was perhaps best known for her tireless work in the arts, culminating in her position as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera from 2007 until her retirement in January for health reasons. This, she often said, was her dream job, and one she “hoped they never found out that she would do, even if they didn’t pay her”.
Born in Murfreesboro to the late John Moody Womack and Kathryn Brown Womack, Molly earned her B.A. in Music from Centre College in Danville, KY and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University. With her two children, she moved to Chattanooga in 1987 to become Executive Director of Allied Arts of Chattanooga, and in 1988 married James Sasse of Chattanooga, a well-known operatic soloist. They were married until his death in 2012.
In September, 2015, Molly married Gaylord Webster French, her dear friend and mentor from Centre College days. They spent her last days traveling, gardening at their new house, and cooking, all things Molly loved.
Prior to joining the CSO, Molly was Executive Director of Allied Arts, and subsequently Vice President for Development at Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. She was a highly skilled development officer.
Molly received many honors and awards in recognition of her talents and devotion, including the American Lung Association Woman of Distinction and the Unbought and Unbossed Award from Girls, Inc.
