Jeannette Mathers Obituary

JEANNETTE JENNINGS MATHERS Jeannette Mathers passed away at the age of 87 on September 10, 2006 in Roswell, New Mexico. She was born in San Francisco to Sylvester and Eveline Jennings. She was a third generation Californian, a descendant of the pioneer Placer County Barnes family. She grew up on the Peninsula, attended Burlingame H.S. and obtained her Bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University, where she was valedictorian of her class. She earned her Master's degree in Speech and her Secondary credential from Stanford University. She also did graduate work at the NBC-Stanford Broadcasting Institute, Oregon State University and the College of Notre Dame. She taught 39 years in California in high school and college; the last 24 years at the College of San Mateo where she also served as administrator. She was a dedicated and dynamic teacher and was very involved in many organizations: Planned Parenthood of San Mateo County, California Congress of PTA, National Association of Parlementaries, CTA/NEA, Daughters of Scotia. In 1959 she was named Woman of the Year of the 9 Bay Area Counties by the Business and Professional Woman. She served as President of the Academic Senate at CSM and upon retiring as President of the Sequoia Hospital Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ed Ruffin and her second, Marc Mathers. She is survived by three step-children, four step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild, nephews and numerous cousins in Roswell, New Mexico, especially close were Laura, Kathy and Theresa Jennings. Jeannette loved traveling, reading, cooking and gardening. She will be remembered with fondness, admiration and respect not only by her family but also by her former students, her friends and her colleagues. Plans are pending for a memorial gathering. her ashes will be scattered at sea. Memorial contributions may be made, in her name, to the SMCCCD Retirees' Scholarship Fund, c/o SMCCC Foundation, 3401 CSM Drive, San Mate, CA 94402.