Jean Wallace Fischer died at home in her Mouse House on Sept. 10 after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer. Her spirit was remarkable, and she gave strength and comfort to all of us who loved her and cared for her. 

Jeannie left the following among her papers:

Jean Wallace Fischer was born on Sept. 26, 1951 in Springfield, the youngest daughter of John E. and Lucy Ann (Balch) Wallace. Soon after, the family moved to Wellesley. They always spent summers on the Vineyard, which felt like their real home. They moved here full time in the early 1970s. 

Jeannie taught school for many years, mainly at the West Tisbury School, but also at the Tisbury School, Chilmark Cooperative Preschool, and the Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School. In 1973 she received her Bachelors degree in education from Wheelock College and in 1991 her Masters in education from Lesley College. She loved teaching, taught all ages, and always remarked on how much she learned from her students. She also loved the arts, and brought that love into the classroom. She was a watercolorist and had several shows of her paintings over the years. She was an avid reader, loved humor, knitting, gardening, and walking.

Jeannie had an extended family with her former husband, Albert Fischer, his wife Linda, and their two girls, Lydia and Molly, whom she adored. Her greatest love and pride were in her two sons, Andrew and Christopher, who were the world to her. Andrew is a carpenter, photographer and artist on the Vineyard, and Chris is a chef in New York city. She also leaves a sister, Ann Wallace, of Chilmark and a brother, Bill Wallace, of Nova Scotia.

Her gratitude was immense for each new day, for her friends and her family.

Jeannie also left this poem, along with others, for all of us:

. . . Grieve not,
Nor speak of me with tears,
But laugh and talk of me
As if I were beside you -
. . . I love you so
‘Twas heaven here with you.
- Isla Paschal Richardson 

Jeannie's memorial gathering will take place at the new Ag Hall on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jeannie's name to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 would be greatly appreciated by her family.