Obituary of Jane C. Whitaker

Jane Chambers Whitaker, 93, passed away peacefully on the night of Monday, February 3, 2014 at Saratoga Hospital after a brief illness. Born Jane Elizabeth Chambers on November 15, 1920, Jane was a lifelong resident of Greenwich, having been born at home on Bleecker Street. She was a graduate of Greenwich High School Class of 1938 and the Eastman School of Business in Saratoga. In 1943 she married her childhood sweetheart, Gordon Whitaker, while he was home on leave from World War II; she waited three years for his return. After the war, Jane worked for S&T Paper Co., The Greenwich Journal, and The Mesick Insurance Agency as Office Manager. After retiring she volunteered countless hours at the Greenwich Library in the Gill Historic Room. It was here that Jane became passionate about genealogy and authored five books about her family history. For her work in history research, she was named DAR “Person of the Year”. In 2009, Jane was Grand Marshall of Greenwich’s Bicentennial Parade. An amazing fact about Jane was that she lived in the same house, built by her father, for 87 years. Jane had a wealth of knowledge about the Greenwich area and had a remarkable mind for facts and dates. She was never more at home than when she was telling one of her countless remarkable stories. Jane was predeceased by her parents, Archie Chambers and Martha Roberts Chambers; her brother David Chambers and his wife Cecil; sister, Dorothy Erickson and her husband Russell; and her husband of 49 years, Gordon Whitaker who passed away in 1992. Survivors include her 3 children, Gerene “Gerry” Pincher of Brunswick, David Whitaker and his wife Marcia of Clifton Park, and Andrew Whitaker and his wife Maureen of Easton. She adored her 3 grandchildren, Seth Whitaker of New York City, Alexander Whitaker of Easton, and Tyler Whitaker of Clifton Park. Her February 3, 2014 passing comes exactly 22 years after that of her late husband Gordon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Greenwich Library Gill Historic Room, 148 Main St., Greenwich, NY 12834. A graveside service will be held in the Greenwich Cemetery in the spring. There are no calling hours.