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Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford 1929 - 1998

Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford of Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut United States was born on February 22, 1929 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. She was married to Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford, and had children Jeff Gifford, Kyle Gifford, and Victoria (Gifford) Kennedy. Maxine Gifford died at age 69 years old on December 6, 1998 in Stamford, Fairfield County, CT.

Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford

Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut United States

February 22, 1929

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

December 6, 1998

Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

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Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford Maxine Gifford (1929 - 1998)

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Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford's History: 1929 - 1998

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Introduction

Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford was born to Dr. Thomas Alexander Ewart Sr. (1873-1958) and Ona Mae Heath (1891-1974) in Los Angeles California. She had four siblings, Jessie C., Margaret E., Vicki Elaine, and Thomas Alexander Ewart Jr. According to the 1930 Census, Maxine was approximately 1 year old living at 918 Daisy in Long Beach California with her father Thomas who was 56 at the time, and Ona H. who was 38, and her siblings Jessie and Margaret Ewart. In 1946, Maxine lived in Long Beach California and attended the Long Beach Polytechnic High School. A few years later Maxine began dating Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford, a football player at USC. They were living in Long Beach California and married in Las Vegas Nevada on January 13th 1952 after Maxine became pregnant. As being pregnant before marriage was frowned upon during the 1950s, they publicly stated that they had secretly married in June 1951. See a photo of them in 1958 at Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford. A copy of their wedding announcement from The Fresno Bee is below at Marriage of USC's Frank GIfford In June Is Revealed. Maxine and Frank divorced in 1978 after being married for nearly 26 years and Maxine moved to Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut. Frank went on to marry Kathie Lee (Johnson) Gifford. they were married for 29 years, until Frank's death and had two children.
02/22

1929

Birthday

February 22, 1929

Birthdate

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Maxine was Caucasian. Her father Thomas Alexander Ewart (1873-1958) was born in Canada and her mother Ona Mae Heath (1891-1974) was born in Wisconsin. Ona's parents Julius Sargent Heath (1869-1945) and Ella Woodard (1872-1943) were also born in Wisconsin.
Nationality & Locations

Born and raised in Long Beach Los Angeles California, Maxine lived on Cedar Ave, and then on Christmas Tree lane in Bakersfield during the 1960s. Later in life, Maxine lived in Courtland in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut where she passed at the age of 69.
Early Life & Education

Maxine attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School located at 1600 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California United States. She also attended the University of Southern California (USC) where she was homecoming Queen. See Queen Helen of Troy and Hollywood Touch for photos of Maxine around the time of her coronation.
Professional Career

Maxine was a homemaker. There is a reference in the 1945 Long Beach Polytechnic High School of a Maxine Ewart working as a faculty member of the Art Staff.
Personal Life & Family

A Varga Girl, or model during the 1940s, Maxine married football star Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford in 1952 (see Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford) and they had three children: one daughter and two sons, Jeff, Kyle, and Victoria. The couple actually eloped in Frank's senior year in Las Vegas. Frank and Maxine divorced in 1978.
12/6

1998

Death

December 6, 1998

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut United States
Death location

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Did you know?

Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford lived 5 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 69.

The average age of an Ewart family member is 74.

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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Maxine

Daniel Pinna

10.5k+ favorites

03/05/2024

Hollywood Touch

Homecoming Queen Maxine Ewart presses the shoes down as cleats of All-America end Paul Cleary are preserved in concrete slab on Southern California campus.

- The Walla Walla Union Bulletin newspaper in Walla Walla Washington December 22nd 1947.

Date & Place: December 22, 1947 at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 90007, United States

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Daniel Pinna

10.5k+ favorites

03/05/2024

Queen Helen of Troy

GRID QUEEN - Maxine Ewart, a USC co-ed from Los Angeles, has been crowned "Queen Helen of Troy" and will rule over the Southern California-Notre Dame game next Saturday. (Acme Telephoto)
- The Waukesha Daily Freeman in Waukesha Wisconsin December 4th 1947.

Date & Place: December 4, 1947

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Kathy Pinna

32.8k+ favorites

08/04/2023

Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford

1958 photo of Maxine with college sweetheart and husband, Frank Gifford.

Date & Place: 1958

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Daniel Pinna

10.5k+ favorites

09/21/2020

Marriage of USC's Frank GIfford In June Is Revealed

BAKERSFIELD Kern County

Feb. 8 - A surprise announcement yesterday revealed the marriage June 30th of All America University of Southern California football player Frank Gifford to Maxine Avis Ewart, of Long Beach.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Ewart, of Long Beach, yesterday announced the marriage of the young couple in Las Vegas, Nev. Gifford is a senior at USC where he was a star halfback for three years after playing for Bakersfield College and High School. He recently was picked in the professional football draft by the New York Giants.

Gifford is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Wain Gifford of Bakersfield.

- Published in The Fresno Bee The Republican (Fresno, California) on Friday February 8th 1952 via the McClatchy Newspapers Service

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