Obituary: Frada Naroll

1918 - 2013

Frada Naroll, a Carson City resident since 1989, was born in 1918 in Los Angeles, to Russian Jewish immigrants, and grew up working in her family’s drug store. She earned a Master’s degree in French from UCLA, then sailed to Honolulu to marry Raoul Naroll. They were still there when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. She spent much of the war stateside with Raoul, working for the Army, then taught junior high after the war. From the mid-fifties through the mid-eighties, in southern California, Chicago, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, and Buffalo, Frada researched and edited in anthropology and other social sciences, generally in collaboration with Raoul. She co-authored the book Military Deterrence in History, published Child Training among Tyrolean Peasants, taught seminars in peasant cultures of Europe and comparative methodology, and edited Behavior Science Research, a journal of cross-cultural studies in social science.

After Raoul’s death, she moved to Carson City to live near her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. She volunteered at the Nevada State Museum, Fremont School, and the Carson City library. She was president of the Carriage Square Homeowner’s Association, secretary of the Carson City League of Women Voters, a member of the Western Nevada College chorus, and in three book clubs.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Maud Naroll and David Gissen, both of Carson City; her grandson, Abraham Naroll Gissen, of Atlanta; his partner, Andrea Para; and nieces and nephews in California and Oregon. Her sharp mind, warm heart, and sage advice will be sorely missed.

She loved to help others.

In her memory, and in lieu of flowers, please do a kindness for someone who needs one.

Capital City Cremation is in charge of arrangements. Her memorial will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 3rd in the Brewery Arts Ballroom.