Jane Kentnor Dean, of Edgartown, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on May 31. She was 91.
Born in Bridgeport, Conn. on December 16, 1934, Jane grew up in Southport Conn., the daughter of the late Charles and Jeanette Kentnor.
She was preceded in death by her husband George Alden Dean, Princeton ’52, (2003) and her son Jeffrey Pratt (2018). Jane’s beloved family members who survive her include: daughter Susan Pratt, (Fernando) Edgartown, Susan’s son Harlin, brother Charlie (Elen) Kentnor, Del., stepchildren, George (Marianne) Dean Jr. and children Charlotte, Mac, California, Diane (John) Dean Stocks and children, Matt, Drew, Nick, Kate, Massachusetts.
Jane’s life outside her family was spent working professionally and as a volunteer in the nonprofit world, with the Fairfield Villages Wellesley Club, the Junior League of Bridgeport and Pequot Library in Southport, being board president of all three. She was the first director of development at Greens Farms Academy from 1974 to 1984. With good humor, she moved into her new office there, a broom closet with the door removed, to accommodate a small desk and chair. She went on to become a senior executive at the Advertising Council in New York City and later a consultant in development at the U.N. International School in New York and for other nonprofits.
A graduate of the Bolton School in 1952, (Greens Farms Academy-GFA), and Wellesley College, Class of ’56, she was proud to be the recipient of the Hoyt O. Perry award for her long service to the Pequot Library in Southport and the GFA Distinguished Alumni Award. A separate award, the Jane Kentnor Dean ’52 Award, is presented annually to a GFA student recognized for outstanding service to the school.
In 2015, Jane’s work and passion for Wellesley was recognized when she was one of four alumnae chosen to receive the Sed Ministrare Volunteer Award. This award takes its name from Wellesley’s motto, Non Ministrari sed Ministrare (“Not to be ministered unto, but to minister”). The award recognized the joy Jane experienced for more than six decades serving both her class and her Wellesley clubs; the Fairfield villages and the Martha’s Vineyard chapter both which she helped to found. Jane also served in several leadership roles including president, 50th Reunion co-chair and 60th reunion special gifts chair.
Jane’s large intergenerational network of friends gave her many opportunities to pursue her favorite hobby — mentoring younger friends as they pursued nonprofit ventures and careers in service of others. She always attributed her long and healthy life to these friends who enriched her and supported her in joy and in challenging times. Jane’s motto was “Connect, Connect Connect!” She never missed an opportunity to plug her latest favorite book, person or project. She was known as someone who “always got the job done” dedicated and reliable.
Jane loved to travel and spent many years as a Francophile, “living in Paris” for a solo month of travel and exploring.
She was fondly known as “the mayor” of Southport having spent the better part of 89 years there. She was a life-long learner and an avid reader.
She and her husband George also had a home in Edgartown for 35 years where they summered with a house full of friends, family and colleagues with most days spent entertaining on their front porch. Their home was well known for the Dean’s Fourth of July parties which grew every year.
A funeral in Celebration of Jane’s Life will be held at Trinity Church, Southport, Conn. on Saturday, June 27 at 11 a.m., and will be live streamed on YouTube. A burial will take place at St. Andrews Church, Edgartown on Saturday, July 4 at 11 a.m.
Gifts in her memory may be sent to Trinity Church, Southport, Conn., which served as the foundation of her faith, Pequot Library, Southport, Conn. or Wellesley College.