Saturday, January 16, 2021
I started taking piano lessons from Jeannine when I was 4 years old, back in 1987. She was a wonderful musician and teacher – discerning, witty and kind. Her students (and their parents!) adored her. In our piano lessons, she shared with us not only the joy of music, but also insights about life.
I’ll remember fondly Jeannine’s wisdom, garnered from an extensive love of learning: Jeannine and Bill had, in their home, columns upon columns of shelves of books that encircled the entire living room. Additional books were stacked on their pianos and tables. They had books to satisfy every color of their curiosity—treatises and guides and expositions on history, literature, music, astrology, nature, art, and medicine.
Jeannine deeply loved music. At least one selection from her extensive record collection was usually playing in the background. She’d dance to the Beatles (a recurring favorite) or listen to a Mozart aria or a Peruvian Quena while she and Bill enjoyed their most recent purchase from Svoboda’s (when the bookstore still existed) or a piece of fair-trade dark chocolate.
I’ll also remember the walks that Jeannine and Bill would take together, waving at dogs and squirrels encountered en route, or asking the neighborhood children about their sidewalk chalk drawings. Bill counted his steps with a pedometer on his belt while Jeannine collected leaves. She’d send collages of these leaves from neighborhood sycamores, maples and tulip trees to her friends in Maine. Jeannine also liked listening to the birds, and, occasionally, responding to their songs: she’d say, “I have to admit, once and a while, I’ll try to answer some birds that I think are answering me, but only if I don’t think there are too many people around.”
Over the years – six decades at least – Jeannine has impacted so many students, from Baby Boomers to Millennials to even Zoomers. She made every one of us better with an unceasing joy and generosity of spirit. Thank you so much Jeannine for all you have done for us. We love you and we will dearly miss you.
