Jane Schmidt 74, of 51 Colony Road, Mumford Cove, Groton, died Thursday July 30th.
Born Eleanor Jane White, on April 2, l935, in Fairmont, West Virginia, she
was the daughter of Ryland and Gladys White. Jane is the fifth of a long
line of women named Eleanor Jane on her motherÕs side of the family. Her
daughter, Jan, and granddaughter, Elly, continue this tradition.
Mrs. Schmidt, former wife of Dr. James L. Schmidt, who practiced family
medicine in Mystic in the late 60Õs and the 70Õs, arrived in Groton by way
of the Navy, as her husband was drafted during the Vietnam ÒWarÓ and
served as a doctor on the George C. Marshall, a nuclear submarine. They
had two children, Eleanor Jane ÒJanÓ Schmidt, married to Mark Goetz, of
Brooklyn, N. Y. and James L. Schmidt II, whose wife is Holly, of Mystic.
There are four grand-children: Christopher Evan and Heidi Jan Schmidt,
and Eleanor Jane ÒEllyÓ and Daniel Ryland Goetz, all of which survive her.
She is also survived by her two sisters: Margaret Kemper White,
Fairview, West Virginia, and in Madison, Ohio, Carol White Baker and her husband William M. Baker, and their children and families: Robert and
Lisa Baker and children Brandon and Tyler; Tod and Vicki Baker and
children Kyle and Korey; and Peggy and Glen Walker and children Glenn
William and Cole. and a cousin, Ann Singer Hill and her husband Tomas of
Kona, Hawaii, and Winsor, California.
While her husband was in medical school at West Virginia University, Jane
was president of the wives group for two years and national Vice President
of the Student American Medical Association WomenÕs Auxiliary.
For nearly twenty years, Jane was the partner of John Bates of Noank, where she lived happily during that time, gardening, photographing boats, birds, sunrises, and enjoying his mpanionship.
Jane remained close with her family, her many friends, her teaching,
her community activities, and especially her church.
Jane graduated from Fairmont (WV) Senior High School, Fairmont State
College with a bachelors degree in public school music, and received a
masterÕs degree in education from West Virginia University. She taught
seven years in Morgantown, WV, two years in Charleston, WV, and 28 years
at Noank School in Groton, retiring in l994. Most of her career was spent
teaching the age group she loved best: third graders. Her music degree
wasnÕt wasted, as it fit in nicely in all of her teaching, scouting, and
church experiences. After her retirement, Jane continued at Noank School as a volunteer in second grade from l994 to 2008,
In l997, Jane was inducted into the Groton EducatorÕs Hall of Fame for
her many years of service to the students, the school, and the community
at large during the time that she taught at the Noank Elementary School.
Jane became a member of the Noank Baptist Church on her birthday in l967.
Church music has been an important part of her lifeÕs experience, having
served as accompanist and assistant director of she junior and youth
choirs of the church from l977 to 2008. She was also a faithful
member of the alto section in the adult choir during this time. She
served several terms on the churchÕs music committee.
From l994 to 2009, Jane was the chairperson of the planning committee of the Mystic Area Ecumenical CouncilÕs annual choir festival for children,
youth, and frequently, adults. This festival was founded in l967 by a
former minister of Noank Baptist Church, James L. Pratt, and continues to this day.
She was very active in Girl Scouts, beginning in l944, in fourth grade,
continuing through high school, at which time she was elected president of
the West Virginia Senior Girl Scout planning board, which oversaw the
Senior Girl Scout Conferences in West Virginia. During her college years,
she led a brownie and intermediate troop. She picked up scouting again
in l970, helping to lead her daughter JanÕs troop through junior, cadette,
and senior scouts. She also spent six summers as a leader at the Girl S
cout Camp Pattagansett in East Lyme. She holds a Life Time Girl Scout
certificate and was presented by the Connecticut Trails Council of Girl
Scouts with the Dinty Award for her leadership when she retired from Girl
Scouting in l977.
Mrs. Schmidt also belonged to the Groton Education Association,
Connecticut Education Association, and the Association of Retired Teachers
of Connecticut.
From l966 to the present, Mrs. Schmidt was a member of the Order of
Eastern Star, Salina Chapter #81 at Malden, West Virginia. She was also a
charter member of the Noank Historical Society and has in recent years
displayed her photography at the summer art show in the Historical
SocietyÕs Latham - Chester Store.
Jane was a founding member of Mysticalligraphers and has taught
calligraphy since l978. Many Noank School students were proud of the
calligraphy they learned in her after-school classes for more than
25 years. Many adults have learned calligraphy around JaneÕs dining room
table over the years. And many more have purchased calligraphy from her
table at the Noank Baptist Church Bazaar.
Jane was a member of the Mumford Cove Association and at one time was on
the Board of Directors as secretary. She also served on the
Mumford Cove WomenÕs Auxiliary board and was president for
two years.
JaneÕs interests extended to traveling, photography, gardening, stamp collecting, reading, listening to classical music, genealogy, visiting museums, especially art museums, rubber stamping, making
greeting cards, and altering books. But her favorite pastime was spending
time with her children and grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at Noank Baptist Church, on Saturday, August 22nd at 2:00pm.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Noank Baptist Church Music Fund, 18
Cathedral Heights, Noank CT. 06340, or ALS Association, 4 Oxford Road, Unit D4, Milford, CT. 06460
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