Bar Harbor
Our beloved mother and most ardent supporter, Jean Clark Plenty, died on February 7, 2014 at Birch Bay Village in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she resided for the past four and a half years. Born February 23, 1919, Jean spent her childhood in West Orange, NJ, graduated from W.O. High School and received a degree in elementary education from Newark State Teachers College where she met George Plenty, the dashing son of her math professor. She and George married in 1944 and remained devoted companions and accomplished bridge partners until his death in 2009.
While George completed his tour of duty with the Army, they lived in several cities across the country but returned to their New Jersey roots – living in Westfield for almost six decades. Jean taught 5th grade in the West Orange public schools and became a popular substitute teacher for the Westfield School District while focusing her primary energy on raising three children and serving her community. She held various leadership roles with the Westfield YWCA for over 25 years and regularly volunteered for the American Red Cross, Women’s College Club, the Westfield Day Care Center and many PTAs. She continued to volunteer one day each week at both Overlook Hospital and the Westfield Presbyterian Church until the age of 90 when she and George moved to Bar Harbor.
Together, Jean and George enjoyed travel, lived for a brief period in Iran and pursued their love of bridge and ballroom dancing. Jean's commitment to family, friends, and community was steadfast - values she instilled in her children and her grandchildren. Her life was one of grace, service and decorum, generously flavored by a quick sense of humor and dry wit. She will be profoundly missed.
Jean is survived by her sister Lois Kunze and her husband Robert of Manchester, NJ; daughter Barbara Repetto and her husband Bruce of Maine; son Donald Plenty and his wife Jan of Gualala, CA; daughter Carole Plenty and her partner Marty Lyons of Mount Desert, ME; grandson Brian Repetto and his wife Rocio Carrera of Brunswick, ME, and their three children Cleo, Quinlan and Keaton; granddaughter Stacy Repetto of Brooklyn, NY; granddaughter Helen O'Donnell and her husband Noah Hoskins of Dummerston, VT; and granddaughter Jennifer O'Donnell and her husband Mike Euphrat of Dummerston, VT.
A concert by Colin Graebert will be held in the Bay Vista Room of the Birch Bay Inn in celebration of Jean Plenty’s 95 years on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30. Donations in Jean’s memory may be made to Birch Bay Retirement Village, 25 Village Inn Road, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.