The original Hollywood Ballroom owner, Barbara (Bobbie) Fries, passed away June 16, 2020. Bobbie is pictured above. The photo at the bottom of this post shows Bobbie with her long-time friend, John Nesler, who passed away in 2009.
Bobbie’s granddaughter, Samantha posted the following on Facebook:
Tonight (6/16/2020) our family said goodbye to the most strong-willed, intelligent, and incredible matriarch, Barbara Fries (Bobbie). At the age of 88 years old, she passed away peacefully of natural causes in her home in Burtonsville, Maryland, surrounded by her loved ones. She was made to be as comfortable as possible in her final days, and we are blessed that she was able to leave this world from her own home as she always wanted. All of her surviving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were able to spend time with her over the past few days to say their goodbyes. She was preceded in death by her son Gregory Fries.
As the original proprietor of Hollywood Ballroom from 1991-2012, she was also well-known and loved by many in the dance community. We plan to host a celebration of life dance in her honor in the future once the COVID-19 situation has resolved (possibly Spring 2021) and it is safe to do so. In the interim, we will be organizing a virtual celebration of life event via Facebook where friends may post their memories, photographs, and condolences.
As a former educator in the Montgomery County School System, Bobbie cared greatly for children and education in addition to dance. In honor of her memory, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made tohttps://usadance.org/donations/donate.asp?id=18647 for their K-12 fund to bring ballroom dance to children across the country.
