Trustees Remembered

Honoring the Legacy of our Permanent Trustees

In recent years, Ensworth lost four formidable women whose leadership and philanthropy were instrumental to the growth and development of the school. Edie Bass, Patricia Frist, Alice Hooker, and Margaret Ann Robinson shared a passion for education and a love for Ensworth, and each was appointed a Permanent Trustee in recognition of her dedication and service.

Ensworth is planning an installation to honor the legacy of these women and other Permanent Trustees; more information will be shared in the Summer 2021 edition of Ensights.

Edith McBride Bass April 28, 1932–Sept. 5, 2020

Edie Bass served several terms as a board member beginning in 1964 and she became a Permanent Trustee in 2001. Edie established the Claire McBride Bass Endowed Fund for the Arts in memory of her daughter, and she was also a member of the John Comfort Society. Edie is preceded in death by her daughter, Claire McBride Bass ‘71 and she is survived by her children, Leslie McKinney Bass ‘70, Meredith Bass Nelson ‘72 (Charles), Lisa Bass Foote ‘74, Jean Maddin Bass ‘76, and Jack Maddin Bass III ‘84, and grandchildren, Richard Sutton Bull IV, Wilkes McKinney Bull, Andy Nelson ‘97, Charles Nelson IV ‘00, Maddin McBride Nelson ‘03, Douglass Gordon Foote III ‘03, Spencer Clifton Foote ‘09, Mason Bass Foote ‘11, Savannah Rhea Solomon, Jackson Keeler Solomon, Polly McBride Bass ‘20, Edith Mercer Bass ‘22 and Jack Maddin Bass IV.

Alice Ingram Hooker

Nov. 8, 1933–July 23, 2019 Alice Hooker served as a member of Ensworth’s Board of Trustees from 1976–1982 and 1985–2018 and was named a Permanent Trustee in 1992. She was a member of Ensworth’s John Comfort Society. Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Henry Williamson Hooker; and by her brothers Erskine Bronson Ingram II and Frederic (Fritz) Bigelow Ingram. Mrs. Hooker is survived by her children Bradford Williamson Hooker ‘72 (Jamie Ball), Lisa Hooker Campbell ‘74 (John Palmer Campbell III), and Timothy Ingram Hooker ‘75 and grandchildren Henry Williamson Hooker II, Alexander Guy Hooker, Alice Hooker Campbell ‘01, Eileen Campbell Hart ‘03 (Christopher Forbes Hart), John Palmer Campbell IV ‘12, Charles Ingram Hooker, Heather Louise Hooker, and great-grand-daughter Evelyn Elisabeth Hart.

Patricia Champion (Trisha) Frist Sept. 28, 1939–Jan. 05, 2021

Trisha Frist served on Ensworth’s Board of Trustees from 1995-2000 and was appointed a Permanent Trustee in 2000. She and her husband, Dr. Thomas F Frist, Jr. were also members of the John Comfort Society. In recognition of their significant contributions to Ensworth, the High School Campus was re-named Frist Campus in their honor. Trisha is survived by her husband, Thomas F. Frist Jr., children Patricia Frist Elcan ‘79 (Charles “Chuck”), Thomas F. Frist III ‘83 (Julie), William Robert Frist ‘85 (Jennifer), and grandchildren Lauren Elcan ‘13, Cate Elcan ‘16, Carrington Elcan ‘20, Caroline Frist ‘19, Annabel Frist ‘21, Thomas Frist IV ‘23, Walker Frist, Jacqueline Frist ‘21 and Sophia Frist ‘23.

Margaret Ann Robinson Sept. 14, 1924–April 4, 2017

Margaret Ann Robinson and her husband, the late Walter M. Robinson, Jr., were one of the couples that founded Ensworth in 1958, and Margaret Ann served as the school’s first Registrar. She served multiple terms on the Ensworth Board of Trustees and was named a Permanent Trustee in 2005. Ensworth honored the lifelong support of the Robinsons by naming the Lower/Middle School dining hall Robinson Hall. Margaret Ann is survived by her children, Ann Robinson Kelly ‘65, Libby Robinson Page ‘68, Emmie Robinson Rick ‘68, Dr. Walter M. Robinson III ‘74, grandchildren Sinclair Kelly ‘94, MacLaren Kelly ‘99, Wade Rick ‘94, Neil Rick ‘00, Florence Page Brown ‘03, and two great-grandchildren.