Remembering Community Leader: Frances Namkoong

Her vision and commitment helped strengthen OCA’s mission at both the national and local levels. Namkoong’s work in Cleveland empowered generations of leaders and ensured that OCA – Greater Cleveland became a hub for community organizing, cultural pride, and civil rights. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to advancing equity for all.

“I met my mentor, Frances Namkoong, during my college years and was instantly inspired by her energy and passion for uplifting Asian American, minority, and broader communities,” remembered Lisa Wong, Chapter President of OCA – Greater Cleveland. “She and her late husband, David, were a powerful team, consistently leading with compassion and a strong commitment to justice. She was a petite powerhouse and expressed her joy for life on the dance floor. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched and the advocates she inspired. She will be dearly remembered. Rest in peace, Fran.”

“Fran and David Namkoong were part of the 1960s civil rights movement,” stated Daphne Kwok, Former Executive Director of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates. “They carried their activism, passion, and coalition-building throughout their lives, and OCA was one of the beneficiaries. Fran helped lead OCA’s efforts to break the glass ceiling, among many other issues that, unfortunately, we are still addressing 30 years later. This nation would be a very different place if there were more people like Fran Namkoong.”