Jeanne was one of my first friends in College Terrace when we bought our house 38 years ago. She was an amazing, smart, humorous woman who loved her family and her community. My thoughts are with her family and friends as we all grieve her loss.

Jeanne knocked it out of the park as a grandmother and a caring community member. My kids and her grandkids attended Escondido Elementary school. Almost every day at the bell, Jeanne was there waiting to walk her 3 gks home to her house a block away to play for the afternoon. Sometimes I’d get there early for my kids and we’d chat of the usual stuff. She was kind to me and always gave me a lift when I was feeling run off my feet when I’d been trying to do it all as a young mom, whose own extended family was far away. She was to me the ideal grandma, dependable and present. One cool thing about Jeanne was that she was an avid sports fan and would always be at soccer, basketball, softball and baseball matches. We’d spend time chatting as my kids played as well. Her children and grandchildren were sports enthusiasts and it was something they could all share. When I reflect on my years of knowing Jeanne, I realize how important it is to have these role models for younger folks who are trying to figure it out like me, not to mention the real value of having a loving grandparent to share in the nurturing of all the community youngsters in addition to their own. Everyone knew Jeanne at Escondido school. She was a fixture. Plus Jeanne was a child of WWII, a patriot and stoic in the face of bad news. But her patriotism didn’t blind her to a sense of fair play. She had a strong sense of community building and was an avid supporter of social justice before they coined the phrase. Being a New Yorker she knew baloney when she saw it and was quick to call it out. I’m enriched by knowing Jeanne and grieve along with the caring family she leaves behind.