Frances Heussenstamm

Life and education

Heussenstamm was born in Cleveland to Fred Kovacs and Edna Jacqueline Reiter. She has two siblings, a younger sister, Marcia Kovacs and her brother, Jerry Kovacs, an engineer. She earned her Bachelor's at Whittier College in 1957, followed by her Master of Arts at Whittier College in 1960. She achieved a Doctor of Philosophy, from University of Southern California in 1968.

Heussenstamm, and her husband, Karl Heussenstamm had three sons, Paul, Mark and John.

Later in life, she struggled with brain injury from a car accident. At the age of 78, she continued to educate and lecture aboard more than 30 international cruises. She also completed twenty two large canvas paintings series entitled, The Circle.