Jane Chandler Saltonstall, age 94, passed away peacefully and comfortably December 1 surrounded by family.
She was born in Auburndale MA to Marjorie Pollard Chandler of Masardis ME and Paul A. Chandler of Hastings NE. She was educated at Dana Hall and Vassar which engendered a lifelong enthusiasm for learning both as a student and supporting individuals and institutions in education. She pursued post graduate studies in Cambridge later in life.
Jane married William L. (Bill) Saltonstall April 18, 1953 and enjoyed 55 years of marriage before his death in 2009. They moved to Manchester after their wedding and she remained there for the rest of her life except for six years in Washington, D.C. in the ‘60s when Bill had a job in Government. Jane enthusiastically danced at the White House in her party dress “Pinkie Doodles”, viewed iconic political figures such as Churchill and Khruschev, used a trampoline to get an unobstructed view of Prince Hussain of Jordan and, while pregnant, rescued Caroline Kennedy from drowning in front of a sheepish Secret Service.
Jane was a warm and caring person who paid close attention to others. She was a mother, caregiver to her parents and to godparents Robert and Claire Ganz. She was a volunteer deeply involved with the St. John’s refugee resettlement program, also Project Genesis, affordable housing and Wellspring House where she mentored and taught English for 11 years while having a recurring role in her friend’s Math class as a mobile decimal.
Janie had a deep relationship with natural beauty and spent most of the summers of her life on Martha’s Vineyard where she went to “Restore my soul” and rekindle connections with trees, animals, birds, rocks as well as her beloved house of the same age as herself.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, daughter Claire, son Thomas and dog Jenny. She is survived by son Will, daughter Abigail, daughter in law Beth, extra daughter Liz Mathiot, sister in law Betsy McCombs grandchildren Christian, Cedar, Harry and great grandchildren Riley and Cooper of the Blankenship family of Palmer Alaska as well as step granddaughters Ericka Schenck and Katrina Moseley and great-grandchildren Henry Smith, Edwin Schenck and Aileen Moseley of Montana. She had many loved and loving nephews and nieces.
A service is planned for 11am January 27th at St. John’s Church of Beverly Farms. It will be simulcast on YouTube via a link from the St John’s Church of Beverly Farms website and available later by the same link. The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers to the Robert Rogers Educational Fund at Wellspring House 302 Essex Av. Gloucester MA 01930. The family is grateful to Care Dimensions Hospice Service and Caring for Caring home care for their loving attention to Jane.
