Featuring a Tribute to Jane Schock (1955 - 2018)

On Thursday afternoon, May 17th, our school community gathered on the campus lawn to celebrate the life of Jane Schock and dedicate a special garden in her memory. Mrs. Schock, who preferred to be called Jane by all at EA, passed away in February after a short illness. In addition to the valuable contribution she made for 23 years as a member of our maintenance team, Jane was our "gardener-in-chief." Because she so lovingly tended the beautiful flowers that grace our campus in the spring and summer months, the EA community agreed that a garden was a most appropriate way to honor Jane.

The brief memorial that included a song from our Middle and Upper School choirs and student, parent and faculty remembrances took place under sunny skies in front of a small garden at the intersection of three pathways that connect our Lower, Middle, and Upper School buildings. Seth Hanford, Head of School, commented in his remarks at the ceremony that the location of the garden in the middle of campus was fitting as Jane was always in the middle of school activities--setting up for events, arranging tables and chairs, and ushering our young students in the car line. He also reminded students that Jane was their biggest fan. She delighted in their academic, co-curricular, and athletic accomplishments and would often seek them out to offer her praise.

Special to the event was an original poem penned by retired Upper School teacher, Stephanie Merrill. Jane cared for Ms. Merrill's classroom plants when school was not in session, and the two often chatted about their favorite books and authors. Jane's love for reading spilled over into the kindergarten classroom too, as she always made a point to drop by the class every year and read a Dr. Seuss book to the young students. A photo of Jane with a group of kindergarteners was unveiled at the ceremony. The picture, signifying Jane's special bond with all our students, will hang in our Media Center.

You can watch the ceremony here.