He was revered by Boca Grande friends like
Bayard Sharp, Joseph and Natalie Swan,
John and Nancy Ames, Harry and Ruth du
Pont, and many others.
Boston historian Walter Muir Whitehill,
who knew Frank well, wrote that the
Crowninshields “were people of strong likes
and dislikes with a mixture of Rough Rider
temperament and a fl air for elegance.” One
of Frank’s strong dislikes, in which he was
joined by many other beachfronters, was
President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Whitehill
also said, “Someone once remarked that
nothing would have made him vote for
FDR had he not heard Frank Crowninshield
denouncing him.”
But there was much more to Frank than
the occasional dislikes. In Whitehill’s words,
“He was often as generous as his wife, and
would give the coat off his back if he liked
the recipient.” In the 50th anniversary report
of his Harvard class of 1891, he wrote, “I am
fortunate and being married to an unusually
good-tempered wife, one who spends
most of her time doing kind things for
other people, myself included.” Despite his
outspoken nature, he loved his family and its
history, and wanted to record their triumphs.
Frank and Louise both had a strong
sense of place and love for their physical
world. They cared deeply about Boca
Grande. Each left a different, but lasting,
legacy for the island. Frank’s Boca Grande
watercolors depict a way of life and a time
when the island was much smaller and less
complicated. They celebrate the beauty of
the outdoor world of tropical gardens and
Gulf views that characterize this community,
which was founded almost 100 years ago.
Today, descendants of both the
Crowninshields and the du Ponts who winter
in Boca Grande continue to tell stories about
Frank and Louise. Visitors and residents are
reminded of their generosity when they go
to the Boca Grande Health Clinic, the Boca
Grande Community Center and the Louise
du Pont Crowninshield Community House.