Rich, Jeanne H., Age: 94, Fair Haven

629

Jeanne H. Rich, 94, of Naples, Florida, and formerly of Fair Haven, passed away on Saturday, April 15. Jeanne was a resident of Tower Pointe, Naples, Florida, for 15 years. Prior to moving to Florida, Jeanne resided in Dallas, Texas, and summered on Martha’s Vineyard for many years. During their lifetime together, Jeanne and Woody traveled the world, much of it in connection with Woody’s business as a consulting engineer, but also for pleasure. The family has enjoyed their stories of international escapade for decades.

Jeanne’s favorite years were those spent with her family in Fair Haven. She was active in the Junior League of Monmouth County and, in addition to raising four children, was a teaching assistant at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. She and Woody were also members of the Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club, where they raced Woody’s hand built Blue Jays.

Jeanne grew up in Upper Montclair and attended Kent Place School and Wellesley College. During her first marriage to Merrill Manning Jr., she worked at M. W. Kellogg Construction in New York, where she was an expeditor of construction materials, and later at DuPont Chemical as a lab technician in Arlington. While at DuPont, she was part of a team that earned the Army Navy “E” award during World War II for excellence in wartime manufacturing. Later Jeanne was employed at Time Life in New York. as a receptionist, once having met and personally greeted Walt Disney. She subsequently resided in Ireland where her former husband was stationed with Pan Am Airlines.

Jeanne will always be remembered for her warm, outgoing personality, her colorful storytelling, and her anecdotal sense of humor.

She was predeceased by a son, Merrill (Terry) Manning, in 2007; and her husband of 56 years, Wilson (Woody) Rich, in 2010. She is survived by her stepson, W. Corey Rich of Houston, Texas; and daughters, Susan Rich Daylor of Milton, Massachusetts, and Karen Rich Choma of Rochester, Minnesota; and four grandchildren, Kirstin Lauritsen, Daniel Choma, Nathan Choma and Andrew Daylor.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Brain and Behavior Health Foundation.