09/25/2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and longtime supporter, Franz Backus.
Franz was a familiar and welcome presence at the Plymouth Arts Center. We greatly enjoyed our many visits over the past 20 years. Franz often remarked that it was so wonderful that our community supported an Arts Center and how much he appreciated our many programs. His encouragement meant a great deal to us.
Franz loved all the arts, but he had a particular appreciation for the visual arts. He and Evelyn sponsored numerous exhibitions bringing a wide variety of artists and their work to our Gallery 110 North.
One of the most special gifts Franz gave the Arts Center came in 2007, when he donated the sculpture “Reaching Out” in memory of his beloved wife, Nancy, who was an art teacher. Franz wanted a striking piece of art that would catch the eye of people passing by and lead them toward our gallery. Today, that sculpture proudly stands in our plaza and has welcomed countless visitors to the Arts Center.
And Franz’s connection to Nancy and her family will continue at the Arts Center. Another sculpture honoring the Stannard Family is now on its way to become part of the PAC Gardens. He believed art could make a place more inviting, more beautiful, and more special—and he wanted the Plymouth Arts Center to be all of those things.
But most of all, Franz was our friend. We will miss his wonderful smile, his fantastic laugh, his stories, and the enthusiasm he brought whenever he walked through our doors. We feel incredibly fortunate to have known him and to have shared so many years with him.
We are honored that Franz chose the Plymouth Arts Center as a beneficiary of memorial gifts, and we will carry his memory forward. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to dear Evelyn and to Franz’s family, and all who loved him.
Thank you, Franz, for believing in the Plymouth Arts Center, for believing in the arts, and for believing in our community. We will miss you more than words can say. ❤️
