Grace F. Cummins

Grace Cummins passed away peacefully on April 6 in Santa Fe at the age of 100. Born June 13, 1917 in New York City, Grace was the eldest of two children born to John and Anne Flesche. She was preceded in death by her brother, John (Jack) Flesche Jr. of Evergreen, Colorado. Grace is survived by her three children, Tom Cummins IV (Shelley) of San Antonio, Texas, Nell Cummins Duff (Charles) of Hampton, Virginia, Joan Cummins of Santa Fe; her grandchildren, Michele Cummins, Thomas Cummins V, and Nicole Cummins; her former daughter-in-law, Catherine (Cathy) Z. Cummins, who affectionately refers to Grace as “Madame”, and was a great inspiration to Grace in writing her book on Sacred Geometry; her sister in law, Dorothy Flesche, who lovingly refers to Grace as “Little Sister” and who wrote to Grace every day following her stroke; her brother-in-law, John Cummins, who supported Grace in many ways until the end; her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews; and special people in Grace’s life, Mary Durland, Gretchen Schramm, Rita Lyons, Emily Damron, Tom Cox and Barbara Miao. As a child during the depression, Grace’s family moved often, living in New York, New Jersey and Chicago before settling down in Webster Groves, MO. There, at the age of 15, she met her future husband, Tom Cummins. Because he was an executive for I.B.M., Grace and Tom were able to spend years in Paris, New York and Mexico City. Grace arrived in Santa Fe in 2000. It reminded her of her years in Mexico City and, as a beautiful artist herself from an early age, she appreciated the creativity of Santa Fe. Grace loved Paris and she celebrated her 100th birthday with a Parisian theme. Known for her compassionate and artistic nature, her smile, her playful sense of fun, those twinkly eyes and her style and grace, she will continue to be cherished. We will miss her infectious laugh. Grace’s life will be celebrated at a private family ceremony to be held in Evergreen, Colorado. There, Grace will join her brother, Jack, in a small mountain cemetery.