Jane Foster Tucker

Jane Foster Tucker of Oxford, MD, died on August 19, 2006 at Mill Landing, Genesis Health Care-The Pines in Easton. She was 87. Born October 8, 1918, in Sparks, MD, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Emma Bowersock Foster. A graduate of Towson High School, she attended George Washington University, in Washington, DC. In 1945, she married Daniel Stair Wentz II at Washington Cathedral. She chose business positions in Washington, DC, to satisfy a lust for learning and educational opportunities. Her first office appointment was the State Department’s Lend-Lease Program where she prepared letters for President Roosevelt’s signature. Long hours and accurate stenographic work were required in the office of U.S. Senator Alexander Wiley (R-Wisc). The owner-publisher of American Aviation Publications encouraged her personal development of creative writing. As Traffic Manager for Washington’s Good Music Radio Station WQQW, she also wrote commercials for aired programs. She joined the Wells Organization, a church fundraising national firm based in Chicago, supervising the growth of their field offices from 5 to 28 cities. When she returned to Baltimore, she joined the staff of Dr. W. Barry Wood, at Johns Hopkins University and the Hospital’s only joint Vice President. After the death of her mother, she relocated to Annapolis, concentrating on St. John’s College alumni and fundraising activities. A re-acquaintance with Ernest Tucker, marine architect, resulted in marriage at St. Anne’s Church in Annapolis; they lived in nearby Cumberstone, West River, where she learned sailing aboard their sloop Half Pint. They moved to Oxford’s Strand in 1962, and she was soon appointed Clerk-Treasurer for the Town, a position she held for ten years, adjusting and relaxing in this small waterman’s town with its constant lure of sailing, until Ernest’s fatal heart attack during the 1981 Oxford Boat Regatta. Jane became a community activist, with her services recognized by the DAR General Perry Benson Chapter Community Service Award, and the Maryland-Talbot County Most Beautiful Volunteer Award. Following years as Curatorial Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, she was elected an Emerita Board of Governors. As President of the Easton Hospital Auxiliary for two different terms, she established an endowment known in 10 years as the Million Dollar Auxiliary Endowment Fund, Memorial Hospital Foundation. She was proud to supervise an elite corps of Candy Stripers from a nucleus of 5 to 52 young girls, some of whom later trained as nurses. She served 15 years on the Advisory committee of MacQueen Gibbs Willis School of Nursing. Elected a member of the Maryland Historical Society, she actively served on the Talbot County Historical Society Board of Trustees, wrote their monthly newsletter, and became a life member. For eight years she served as a trustee of the Talbot County Free Library. Jane worked for many years for the Oxford Library, held successive offices, organized their annual book mart, and was appointed Board Emerita in 2005. A founding member of the Oxford Museum, she served as its first secretary. Working closely with Sue Jackson of Otwell, Jane was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the newly formed Oxford’s Tercentenary Committee with Norman Harrington. She had served 16 years as elections judge, District 3, Talbot County; and has served as secretary of the local Republican Women of Talbot County. She was appointed by Town Commissioners to their Port Warden Committee, the Historical Committee, the Zoning Appeals Board, and Recreation Board. A life member of the Oxford Fire Auxiliary, she was cited for continued contributions as a member of the Oxford Fire Auxiliary. She also enjoyed the opportunity to be the Oxford Social Correspondent for three years with the “Start Democrat” newspaper. Since childhood she was encouraged by her mother to travel, and in 1938, she flew on an historic Pan American Airways first transatlantic air service from Bermuda. Later she often visited Bermuda, made two extensive European Journeys, and greatly enjoyed six Caribbean cruises including a round-trip on the Panama Canal. Jane devoted hours of research to write and publish monographs for the benefit of Oxford’s newly organized historical activities; these included Port of Entry – Oxford; Perdita; The Oxford Library; Jermiah Banning – Mariner and Patriot; and a recent second essay – Oxford Library from Concept to Fulfillment. Her memoir of Dr. W. Barry Wood was accepted by the Hopkins Medical Institution’s Chesney Medical Archives, an achievement lauded by her friends. A memoir about Ernest Tucker and his boat Half Pint became a small booklet as gifts to friends. Recently she has substantially completed an extensive paper titled Em’s Story – about her mother’s turbulent long life, which will be printed posthumously and distributed to interested family and friends. The eleventh of twelve children, Jane is survived by nieces, nephews, and many close and loving friends. Memorial services will be held at the Church of The Holy Trinity, in Oxford on Friday August 25, 2006, at 2:00 PM, with Reverend Rod Brown officiating. Burial in the Oxford Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Auxiliary Endowment Fund of the Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Oxford Fire Company, the Oxford Library, or the Oxford Community Center.