Jacqueline H. Renear (“Jacquie”), 97, of Chilmark, passed away on July 1, 2023, peacefully, after a short stay at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Her family was with her. She was predeceased by her husband, Dixon B. Renear, and daughter, Meg Renear.
Her greatest love was her family and her love of teaching. She majored in early childhood education, and taught first in West Hartford, Conn, and did a teacher exchange in Canada. She also taught in Texas after she was married. She and her husband returned to Martha’s Vineyard and continued teaching. Most of her years of teaching were on the Vineyard, with the exception of a few years’ interruption to raise her two girls.
After teaching, she was interested in fundraising, and chaired a packed Tabernacle for a concert put on by her neighbor and friend, the noted jazz pianist Eddie Heywood, which benefited the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Her other great love was Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, as she was interested in the natural world and was part of the founding board of Felix Neck. With the dream and passion of Anne and Tom Hale of having a wildlife sanctuary for children and adults, and with the help of the land given by George Moffett and the amazing appointment of Gus Ben David as director, and the endless help of Elizabeth and Bob Goodale, Felix Neck began. Jacquie was the education director, and started the Fern and Feather summer day camp. She organized and ran the first of five walk-a-thons, “Foot It for Felix,” to raise money to build a house for the director and funds for future projects. She served on the board for 25 years.
At the same time, she spent many years as a Martha’s Vineyard Hospital volunteer, as well as a Hospice volunteer.
When her girls were young, she wrote a book, “My Sister and I,” but never had it published until 50 years later, when her daughter Beth decided it must be published. It was, and she had a book signing at the West Tisbury library with a standing-room-only crowd. Many former students and their children, as well as many friends and family, were in attendance.
She is survived by her daughter, Beth Larsen; son-in-law Louie Larsen; her grandsons Travis Larsen and his wife Melissa, Hans Larsen and his wife Julie, and Andrew Larsen and Kate Mahoney; great-grandchildren Vincent and Gavin Larsen; her sisters, Sally Marte, Peggy Niznik and her husband Joe; and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 28, at 11 am, at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 494, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the West Tisbury Library, P.O. Box 905, West Tisbury, MA 02575, or to the Up-Island Council on Aging, P.O. Box 3000, PMB 2125, West Tisbury, MA 02575.
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