Frances Wyllie Obituary

Frances Rosemary (Blair) Wyllie, (Romy), of Pasadena CA, passed away in her home on June 25, 2025, at the age of 92. A tenacious and loving woman, Romy led a life filled with family, intellectual and artistic passions, and a zest for life that made her a trailblazer in her younger years and kept her actively engaged in life well into her 90's.
Romy was born on November 6, 1932, to Robert and Frances Mary Blair in Hull, England. Growing up in England during WWII, she began boarding school at the early age of 7 to shelter from bombing in the cities. She later attended the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, earning her MA in history and a secretarial certificate from St. Godric's College, London. While at St Andrews, Romy participated in theater, which is how she met her future husband Peter Wyllie, who after seeing her in an onstage production, was intrigued by her outgoing nature and beautiful smile. In addition to theater, Romy played on the lacrosse team, one of the many passions she pursued as part of her commitment to fitness and physical activity. She was an avid tennis player, art collector, gardener, patron of the arts (theatre, chorale, orchestra), and jazzerciser, all of which she enjoyed well into her 90's.
Peter and Romy married in June of 1956 in London, and soon after said goodbye to their English families, and sailed on the Queen Mary across to America where Pete completed his post-doctoral work at the Pennsylvania State University. They began their family in State College, PA, where Pete became a professor of geology. His career then took them to the University of Chicago, and eventually, in 1983 to Caltech in Pasadena, CA, where they remained for the rest of her life.
Pete and Romy faced challenges and heartaches in their early years of child rearing, but they were determined to provide their family with opportunities for success and learning through life experiences including travel, diversity, and unconditional love. They had four children. Their first was Andrew James (1958 to 2011), born with Down syndrome. Their second child, Elizabeth Jean, lived to 18 months when she succumbed to cancer (1962). Their next two children, Lisa Margaret, and John David, raised families of their own.
While supporting Pete's career and raising a family, Romy carved her own successful and meaningful profession as an interior designer and author. In 1974, she earned a Design degree from Harrington Institute of Interior Design, having already transitioned from a secretary at Penn State University, to Managing Editor for the Journal of Geology, University Chicago Press. As an Interior Designer, she built a career teaching and working for Space Design Group. By 1977, she established her own interior design business, Intekton, which flourished until retirement in 2012.
It was in this field that Romy expressed her passion for architecture, history and writing. In Pasadena, she co-founded CATS (Caltech Architectural Tour Society), through the Caltech Women's Club. In her late 60's through 80's she began writing books. She is the author of 5 books (two architectural history books, two memoirs, and one monograph).
She is survived by her husband, two children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren throughout the USA, and nieces and nephews in England. Her life was a testament to trailblazing, and perseverance. She leaves behind a legacy of appreciation for history, architecture, and design, and of ambition and tenacity to the very end.
A funeral service to honor Romy will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Sierre Madre, CA on Saturday September 20th at 10am with reception to follow in the parish hall.