Who Is Fran Cey
Frances Fishbein Cey, known as Fran, has balanced family, entrepreneurship, education, and community activity for most of her life. She is best known as the wife of “The Penguin,” former Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey, but her story goes beyond baseball.
Fran has maintained a relatively private public profile. While her husband’s career placed him under bright stadium lights, she built a life that often unfolded away from the spotlight. Her world has included raising children, supporting a professional athlete through the demands of a long Major League Baseball career, developing a specialty craft business, and participating in charitable work in Southern California.
She has Chicago and Illinois Fishbein ancestry. She earned master’s degrees in social work from the University of Wisconsin Madison and Arizona State University. Her academic background shaped her interest in community involvement and organisations helping women, children, and families.
Fran Cey and Ron Cey’s Marriage
Fran and Ron Cey married on September 11, 1971, in Chicago. Their wedding took place during a brief break in Ron’s baseball schedule. The timing reflected the unusual rhythm of professional baseball, where travel, games, training, and commitments can make ordinary family plans difficult.
Their honeymoon was postponed because Ron needed to return to baseball and Fran was continuing her studies. It was an early example of the practical partnership that would define their marriage. Rather than waiting for a perfect calendar, they adapted to the circumstances in front of them.
Their marriage remains a major part of Fran’s public life after 50 years. They have attended Dodgers, charitable, family, and baseball events together. Fran has been a constant in Ron’s career and post-baseball life.
Professional athlete spouses may have a continuously changing schedule. Road trips, injuries, contract changes, public scrutiny, and competition stress. Fran created steadiness in that changing world. Her role was more than a bystander. Her role in the family allowed Ron to focus on the game while maintaining a home life.
Her Education and Social Work Interests
Fran’s studies in social work offer an important glimpse into her interests and values. Social work requires patience, empathy, practical judgment, and a willingness to stand beside people during difficult periods. Those qualities also appear in descriptions of her family life and charitable involvement.
In the 1970s and 1980s, she worked with Crittenton and other groups. These groups assisted abused or neglected girls, pregnant women, unwed moms, and babies. Her involvement showed concern for those without reliable support.
Her art also linked her own interests to her fame as a baseball player’s wife. Fran could promote vulnerable family causes through Dodgers connections. Her generosity focused on real aid rather than self-promotion.
Class Act Designs and Her Entrepreneurial Career
Fran Cey is the founder and President and CEO of Class Act Designs, Inc. The company specializes in handmade and hand dyed silk ribbons and ties used by jewelry designers, bead shops, and creative businesses.
Products are unique in arts and crafts. Silk ribbons can be jewellery, packaging, decorative embellishments, or designer materials. The texture, colour, and tiny variances that make handmade objects personal make them appealing.
Building a niche firm takes more than creativity. It encompasses material sourcing, product development, customer management, wholesale market expertise, and retailer connections. Fran’s commercial success contrasts with her husband’s sporting achievements. Quieter, yet with its own endurance.
Fran is listed as retired on some websites but still involved with Class Act Designs on others. That combination may indicate a steady change in duties. She seemed to have become more flexible after decades of work and family.
Fran and Ron Cey’s Children
Fran and Ron have two adult children, Daniel Cey and Amanda Cey. Daniel is also referred to as Dan in family contexts. Amanda has sometimes appeared in public records under the name Amanda Demonaco.
Since the family values privacy, their professional lives are kept private. Their father has garnered more public notice than them, yet they have attended family parties, business concerns, and Dodgers events.
The Cey family lived close to Major League Baseball while juggling family duties. Ron played for the Dodgers, Cubs, and Athletics. Baseball was part of Fran and the kids’ lives, but not their primary identity.
The family has also entered a new generation. Fran has referred to herself as the grandmother of four grandchildren. She has shared occasional family milestones through social media, giving glimpses of a close knit household without publicizing every detail about the children or grandchildren.
Ron Cey’s Dodgers Legacy
Ron Cey’s career is an important part of understanding Fran’s life because the two stories developed side by side. Ron played third base for the Dodgers from 1971 through 1982 and became one of the defining players of the franchise’s golden era.
His six All-Star selections were from 1974 to 1979. He was part of the Dodgers’ famed infield with Steve Garvey at first base, Davey Lopes at second, and Bill Russell at shortstop. The quintet played together for over eight seasons, building a baseball infield that lasts.
The quartet helped the Dodgers reach four National League pennants in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981. In 1977, Cey was part of a remarkable Dodgers lineup that produced four players with at least 30 home runs. He finished that season with 30 home runs and 110 runs batted in.
The 1981 World Series was his best playoff performance. Cey hit.350 with one homer and six RBIs. He was stretchered off the field after Goose Gossage’s pitch in the sixth game. In the next game, he showed his hardness that became famous.
Cey shared the 1981 World Series Most Valuable Player Award with Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero. He also received the Babe Ruth Award for his postseason performance. Those honors helped secure his place in Dodgers history.
His Dodgers career included 228 home runs, strong run production, dependable defense, and a reputation for durability. He was a powerful presence at third base during a period when the Dodgers regularly contended for championships.
The Family at Dodgers Events
Fran has continued to appear with Ron at Dodgers ceremonies, foundation gatherings, galas, and celebrations honoring former players. These occasions have included events connected to the Dodgers Foundation and recognition of Ron’s contributions to the organization.
Family, teammates, friends, and fans attended Ron’s Legends of Dodger Baseball induction. Fran saw it as more than a sports prize. There were also years of travel, sacrifice, rehabilitation, joy, and family support during Ron’s career.
After Ron retired, the Ceys stayed involved with the Dodgers. Their performances demonstrate how baseball can foster family and camaraderie. People beside the honouree typically disclose the underlying tale, even though the stadium is the public stage.
Fran Cey’s Life Today
Fran continues to be associated with Woodland Hills, California, where she and Ron have lived for many years. The area has served as a long term home base for their family and community activities.
She has used social media to share occasional reflections about marriage, family, anniversaries, and grandchildren. In 2021, she noted that she and Ron had been married for more than 50 years. These posts offer a personal counterpoint to the formal statistics and awards attached to Ron’s career.
Her online presence remains selective. She appears comfortable celebrating family milestones while keeping many private matters away from public attention. That balance is central to her identity. Fran is visible enough to be recognized, but private enough to preserve a life beyond headlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Fran Cey married to?
Fran Cey is married to Ron Cey, the former Major League Baseball third baseman best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They married in Chicago on September 11, 1971.
What is Fran Cey’s full name?
Her full name is Frances Fishbein Cey. She was born Fran Fishbein and became Fran Cey after marrying Ron.
What business did Fran Cey establish?
Fran Cey founded Class Act Designs, Inc. The company specializes in handmade and hand dyed silk ribbons and ties for jewelry designers, bead shops, and arts and crafts customers.
Did Fran Cey study social work?
Yes. She studied at the University of Wisconsin Madison and Arizona State University, where she pursued graduate education in social work.
How many children do Fran and Ron Cey have?
Fran and Ron Cey have two adult children, Daniel Cey and Amanda Cey. Public information about their careers and private lives is limited.
How many grandchildren does Fran Cey have?
Fran has referred to herself as the grandmother of four grandchildren. The family generally keeps the children’s personal details private.
What charitable work has Fran Cey supported?
Fran has been associated with charitable efforts connected to Crittenton and related organizations serving abused or neglected young women, pregnant women, mothers, and infants.
Where have Fran and Ron Cey lived?
Fran and Ron have lived in Woodland Hills, California, for many years. Their home there has remained a central base for family life and community involvement.
Why is Ron Cey important to Dodgers history?
Ron Cey was a six time All Star, a key member of the Dodgers’ celebrated infield, and a co Most Valuable Player of the 1981 World Series. He helped the Dodgers win the 1981 championship and played a major role in the team’s success during the 1970s and early 1980s.
