Remembering Anne-Sophie Blank

Written By Isabelle Heidbreder

Dear members, students, and friends of the Alliance Française de St. Louis,

It is with a very heavy heart that I must share with you the news of the passing of a friend, fellow teacher and former Executive Director of the Alliance Française de St. Louis, Anne-Sophie Blank.

Anne-Sophie had a gift and a passion for language and communication. She graduated from the Sorbonne with a Master’s in German and later earned a Master’s in French literature from Washington University. She soon found her calling as a teacher at the University of St. Louis Missouri, St. Louis Incarnate Word Academy, St. Charles Community College AND the Alliance Française de St. Louis.

Anne-Sophie acted as a community liaison for French-speaking families undergoing medical treatments and surgeries in St. Louis. She also transcribed numerous historical texts from French to English, volunteered for Cinema St Louis, performed in local figure skating productions, developing a rich network of friends and fans during her more-than-30 years in our community. 

Anne-Sophie was a breast cancer survivor. Having moved to Columbus to be closer to her older son, she was diagnosed in the fall of 2025 with metastatic melanoma. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 31st, 2026.

Farewell Anne-So, take care my friend, ce n’est qu’un aurevoir !

You will be missed!

Isabelle

Isabelle Heidbreder

Chevalier of the French Order of the “Palmes Académiques” and Consule Honoraire de France à Saint Louis, Isabelle was born and bred in Toulon (Provence). After studying law for two years at the Université of Toulon-La Garde, she “gave it all up for love” and moved to the U.S. in 1981.

After a diverse career across the country, she joined the Alliance Française de St. Louis in 1998 as a teacher/translator/lecturer/tour guide and became our Executive Director in 2009, a role in which she served until her retirement in 2026.

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