By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HARTWELL - Emily Frank Adler, a lifelong Cincinnatian who taught French at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University during the 1940s and 1950s, died Monday at Evergreen Retirement Community. She was 93.

Mrs. Adler was a woman of many interests. She spoke several languages and was president of the Alliance Francaise. She was also an accomplished pianist who was an active supporter of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the May Festival and the LaSalle Quartet.

She and her husband, Thomas, enjoyed collecting art. They donated several important 20th-century artworks to the Cincinnati Art Museum.

She was an early supporter of the Contemporary Arts Center and participated in development of Fellowship House of Cincinnati. She also spent many years volunteering at Krohn Conservatory and for Radio Reading Services.

Mrs. Adler graduated from Smith College in 1932 and received a master's degree in French literature from UC in 1933.

She loved nature and was grateful for gardens, parks and nature centers. She loved dogs - both pedigreed and mutts. She loved to attend Linton Chamber Music concerts. But, according to her daughter Margot Adler Welch of Cambridge, Mass., she enjoyed nothing more than telling a good joke - except maybe dark chocolate.

Her husband died in 1993.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include two sons, David Adler of Washington, D.C., and Dan Adler of Charlevoix, Mich.; a sister, Peggy Frank Crawford; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was at United Jewish Cemetery in Evanston.

Memorials: Emily Frank Adler Fund, French Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com