Obituary | Former Dance Faculty Member Frank Bays Dies
After a short illness, Frank Bays passed away at home in California. Born in Bristol, Virginia, Frank will be remembered for his dancing career as soloist with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and with the First Chamber Dance Company. He is honored by a long and distinguished teaching career spanning more than thirty years at Cornish College of the Arts and First Chamber Dance Company in Seattle, Summer Dance Lab in both Port Townsend and Walla Walla, WA as well as numerous regional companies.
Frank touched many people with his wisdom and kindness. He is remembered for his extraordinary devotion to people and animals. Frank raised and bred Scottish Deerhounds, and pioneered the breeding of Pygmy Goats in the Pacific Northwest. In 1997 he founded Cliffhanger, a kennel instrumental in saving the rare breed of dog, the Norwegian Lundehund.
Frank was loved by everyone who met him, and one always had the feeling of being loved in return. He is survived by his partner of 44 years, Ray Bussey, who continues their kennel with Cliffhanger co-founder and long-time friend Sharon Pederson.
Private services were held at Frank's California home. Contributions for the establishment of the AKC Canine Health Foundation's Norwegian Lundehund Research Fund as Frank Bays' legacy may be sent to the Norwegian Lundehund Association of America, c/o Terry Tetzlaff, Treasurer, 715 SE 11th Street, Battleground, WA 98604, specifying the Frank Bays Memorial Fund.
