I've enjoyed reading everyone's stories about their experiences with Jean. I've known Jean for about 7 years now and it's been wonderful to have her as a teacher, mentor and friend. I met Jean shortly after she began to develop her first online course, I was assigned to help her with the technology part. When we introduced ourselves she was quick to note that she wasn't sure about online teaching, but since she has always been interested in a challenge she thought she'd try it out. Little did she or I know at the time that the very course she wasn't sure about would become an award winning online course!

As Jean and I got to know one another better, I realized she would be a great person to invite to be on my doctoral guidance committee and dissertation committee. Lucky for me she accepted and I can't begin to tell you all how helpful it was to have her support, feedback and friendship throughout the process.

I think, though, that I most cherish the friendship I've now developed with Jean as a colleague. She's done so much to encourage me to seize new opportunities and supported me in those efforts, even if she wasn't feeling 100%.

Jean, I am truly grateful for your friendship!
Keeping you in my thoughts,
Scott

I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about Jean and her family in this blog, and I would like to share another story from our young adulthood. I think that we all agree that when we talk about our experiences with Jean, it’s not only Jean that we talk about, but other family members as well. This is the same wonderful family connection that I saw when I first met them in 1970.

Having lived next door to the Baker’s, they always made me feel like part of their family. I felt that I had a special relationship with them as a family and with each, individually. We spent much of our adolescent years together, Jean, Trudy and I. Jean is two years younger than Trudy and I, but she was always included with everything that we did and it was quite evident that Jean and Trudy had always been the best of friends. All through high school I spent many weekends sleeping over at the Baker’s house. We would stay up late watching TV, listening to music, making prank calls to friends and just being teenagers; having a blast. Regardless of what time we went to bed, Reverend Jack would always wake us up for Sunday mass. Having been raised in the Catholic Church and not in the Episcopal, I took advantage of my parents being away, and would sleep in. On occasion I attended a service or two with Jean and Trudy, and was surprised to find that the format of the mass was very similar to the Catholic mass. When I questioned Rev Jack about the similarities, I got a very long history of both religions and was told emphatically that I was a “Roman” Catholic which is different than an Episcopalian “catholic”, and that I should never mistake the fact that they are different. He was always very passionate and proud of being an Episcopalian minister and held it in the highest esteem. Hmmmm…..well, needless to say, I picked up on his sensitivity of even the mere suggestion of the Episcopal Church being akin to the Roman Catholic, and I took every opportunity to question and tease him about it.

I tell you that story to tell you this one: When it was announced that Jean and Watts were to be married, it was a very happy time. I chuckle when I think about the day we were together talking about it. Jack, Fran, and Jean were there, and I’m not sure if Trudy was or not. Anyway, we were all talking about Jean and Watts, where is he from, how’d they meet, etc., having a wonderful time, when Rev Jack leaned over to me, had his hand up to his face as to whisper to me so that no one else could hear, (but of course everyone could) “he’s a Lutheran!” I laughed and replied “well, at least he’s not Roman Catholic!” We all roared! Jean, smiling, rolled her eyes; looked at her dad, who was smiling and looking back at her, told him “you’re incorrigible”. You could see that they shared a a special moment. Of course he meant the remark in jest because of our religious discussions. He then went on to talk about what a fine young man Watts was and that he and Jean would surely have a happy and wonderful life together. Smart man!

Jean Rocks, pt. 2

As Gene has said, Jean Rocks. We joined Holy Cross Lutheran Church at about the same time Jean, Watts, Liz and Charles joined when we all moved to Athens. Since first meeting this wonderful family, we formed a special bond....how can you not with such a warm and fun family. Of course, Charles and Brandon bonded like two brothers. I remember how the two boys would find each other at church to sit together and Jean and I would be flanking them like bookends. These boys are way too cute for us to not sit in on their conversations. I remember hearing their “whispering” conversations and Jean and I will look at each other and nearly busted out laughing at their antics. Jean will share with us child rearing stories and she would give us advise which had been invaluable to us. I too remember the wonderful parties Jean and Watts would throw on special occasions and sometimes for no reason at all except for good fellowship. I especially treasure the mornings of when Jean stayed with us to visit when she is back in town doing her Grant research and we would just talk and talk. While we had serious topics to discuss, we also had a lot of laughs. What a gem of a gal.

Sister Jean Rocks

We have known Jean, Watts, Liz, and Charles for over 14 years and continue to enjoy a very close and special friendship with our family in Athens, GA. Our special friendship started as a small ministry group at Holy Cross Lutheran Church where we enjoyed: many fun adventures in the great outdoors (Jean and Watts especially loved the many wonders that are there to enjoy) including parks, hiking, splashing at water parks or at the pool - Jean is such a terrific, charming, and fun sister full of joie de vivre!; many heartfelt, in depth, and profound discussions about life, spirituality, philosophy, beer, raising children, child psychology, more beer, and many of life's growth opportunities - I have always marvelled at Jean's wonderful insights and gifts in all these areas, many of which we applied for our family and conveyed to others. As Jean and Watts are also gourmet chefs and terrific hosts, we also enjoyed the many wonderful parties full of great food (even the experimental recipes) and fun fellowship with their expansive circle of friends and family which ensured there was never a dull moment in the Baker-Rozell household with a seemingly endless stream of life traffic flowing through. Speaking of family, Jean and Watts were not only totally devoted to their lovely children, beautiful and free spirited Liz (wonder where she gets it from??), tall and handsome Charles, but also to Jean's mom and dad, Fran and Jack respectively; Jean and Watts expanded their home to share their love with Fran and Jack where they enjoyed their time together partying, gardening, and bonding. This type of love and devotion is reflective also of the type of love Jean and Watts share: free flowing and expansive as the wind and holy spirit, and grounded in the Lord our rock and earth as the foundation. When Jean transferred to Michigan with this terrific opportunity we and our Holy Cross family missed Jean's wonderful spirit and fellowship tremendously. We enjoyed Jean's frequent visits to Athens to work on various projects and had the recent good opportunity to return some of the early favors by sharing our home with her and with Watts and Charles on other occasions with good food at some of Jean's favorite places including the Grit, Blue Bird cafe, Last Resort, and the Botanical Gardens. We also enjoyed visits by Charles who has always been great friends with our son Brandon and marvelled at how TALL Charles has grown with rock star good looks as well; with his ingenuity Charles may even convert the cello into an electric acoustic instrument for his band someday. Charles and Brandon have always had a special bond ranging from their love for Star Wars (with frequent light saber duels), Legos, video and PC games, music, and obstacle courses. We also enjoyed taking Charles around some of his more familiar areas (Athens eateries; White Water waterpark; Six Flags) and some new adventures (LAN Gaming parties; GA Aquarium; Sweet Tomatoes gourmet salad restaurant; Grand Buffet chinese seafood restaurant to name a few). Brandon also had fun on several trips to Michigan where he visited several museums, shows, enjoyed gourmet (and experimental) cooking, and even participated in a 'cooking show' for gourmet cookies produced by Liz and Charles!.....Yumm!

Jean, Watts, Liz and Charles are FAMILY (which means that you're STUCK with us) who we miss here in Athens and will always have in our hearts and spirit with love, hugs, and smoochies always! God bless and Keep y'all in His loving care with Peace, Balance, Healing, Strength, Courage, and Wisdom.......Your Athens Family, Brother Gene, Sister Kathy, Brandon, and our Holy Cross Family

Southern thoughts

Here's another friend from Athens,GA. new to the Blog world but Jean, Watts, Liz and Charles are worth my attempt. Elizabeth was the only other girl my daughters age in Sunday School and she and Christina hit it off from the start. They attended different schools but they were in Girl Scouts together as Juniors and received their God and Country Award together with Watts help and guidance. Jean even became one of the GS Leaders and added her professional expertise to our challenging and diverse group of girls. Halloween was always another adventure and I only recall Charles being a Star Wars character or Ninja of sorts, always with a stabbing "weapon" of sorts in his hands,and very active!; Elizabeth was a Princess. Thanksgiving dinners at your house in Cedar Creek was a delicious and joyous occasion, with much drinking and merriment. You were all there for our family when Tim was sick and we have been blessed with seeing you when you have returned to Athens for quick professional meetings and your travel pictures these past years. Charles was TALL when we saw him this year visiting Brandon and Athens.
Keep loving generously, caring deeply, receive the comfort of our prayers and leave the rest to God. We all love you, Lynn, Christina, David

JEAN AT MOTHER'S 80TH BIRTHDAY!

Jean made her way to Oklahoma for mother's 80th Birthday party! We were so delighted that the entire family could make it for this special event!
Jean these are the other family members in Oklahoma that love you too!!
We are so happy that Jean , Butch , Charles and Elizabeth could be at this very special event!
Ann & Randy

Hi, I'm Becky from Athens, GA. I knew Jean and Watts and Elizabeth (she wasn't Liz then) and Charles as we worshipped together and did ministry together at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Jean was teaching a parenting class when we first attended and did so much to make us feel welcomed and included. I so enjoyed her way of calm, intelligent, happy, creative insight! Her family was so refreshingly wacky and real. We had great fun and meaningful fellowship with the Baker-Rozell family and my thoughts and prayers are with them.

JEAN ONE OF MY FAVORITE SISTER-IN-LAWS!

Jean is on of my very favorite sister-in-laws! (please don't tell the rest of the sister-in-laws) Once you meet Jean, you know that she is a very special person with a warm and caring heart.
We are all so very proud of her and all of her accomplishments over the years!
Randy and I so enjoyed our visit last Fall with Jean and Butch and my wonderful niece and nephew Charles and Elizabeth.
The entire family was so gracious to us on our visit, and this was our first time in Michigan, and as I left was wondering why we had not visited them before now.
Jean and Butch always came to Oklahoma to see us except when our father flew us all up to their wedding in Boston twenty six or twenty seven years ago. And that was a wonderful trip for the entire family! What a beautiful memory to have!
We love you Jean! And I am so very proud to have you as my sister-in-law!
Ann & Randy

There are a lot of family that love you Jean in Oklahoma!

I joined Jean's Blogger today, from Korea

Hi,
My name is Gu Ick Lee from korea. I'm Watts's frend and one who loves Watts's family.
I'm glad to join this blogger and I'd like to talk with you about everything especially
Jean's matter.

Warm regards

Gu

where to begin...at the beginning.

I met Jean but I call her Weenie, {not sure she has ever been keen on that but it is a term of endearment} the summer of '73. I was hired as the Arts and Crafts director at an Episcopalian camp Bement outside Worcester Ma. I fell in love with the camp and Jean simultaneously. Jean was still at Barnard and I called her my brainiac friend. Weenie introduced me to sipping Sherry in our little outpost building on the days off when the campers were gone. It was lovely, I hadn't known the joys of feeling tipsy at 3pm on gorgeous Massachusetts days. And I was the elder! We talked endlessly, we cuddled we laughed and we played and talked even more. I was welcome at her parents home and i recall a bizarre contraption in the kitchen that was a sauna for one...looked like an iron lung machine, it terrified me. They had a chihuahua that had terrible breathing problems..it snuffled an awful lot...it was weird, i didn't know people like this! I remember her mom and her endless energy, cooking baking for church functions making wacky craft projects. Her father was the first Episcopalian minister i had met, and been invited into the privacy of his domain. His family referred to him affectionately as "Hilly", but i don't think I ever knew why. Or my age has made me forget at this point He had a wonderful library and the room itself was woody and filled w/books and had a serious intellectual feel to me. I loved that room. Their home was warm ,loving and filled with good humour and acceptance.

I worked at Bement for a few years and loved it there, Jean and I were soul mates. She has a wonderful giggle gaggle laugh...a kind of "guffaw." One evening as we returned from a night off and out at a local pub called the Massasoit, which is now no longer, as we walked a little giggly and tipsy, we walked up the incline to camp, there was a newly built replacement building in which her mom worked and lived and tended to giving out meds and the sick campers as well as it housing visiting ministers and others. As we approached the building there we saw a wall of windows on the side of this structure, I am dating myself but like from Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In TV show, we saw a few images happening at once while the inhabitants saw nothing. excpt the darkness and Jean and I, if they happened to be looking... our very funny friend Todd was yelling to us, we are now hysterical w/laughter as one of the "drier" stuffier visiting ministers could be seen in full light by Jean and myself while sitting on the potty reading a newspaper. We nearly wet ourselves while Todd couldn't understand what the heck was so funny. It was a sight!! if you can imagine.

I graduated college and moved to Chicago and made it thru my 1st yr attending the Erikson Institiute, during that yr Jean came to visit, we lost a dear friend that yr and Jean of course picked me up in Boston and held me and we cried all night. The next yr Weenie decided to take the risk after graduating herself and moved out to Chicago and we shared our apt. She brought the family Siamese cat who ate peanut butter out of the jar...i loved the cat. I remember that year Diana was marrying Prince Charles and her parents came to Chicago and those wacky 3 Bakers holed themselves up in a hotel and watched all night and day. I couldn't imagine what all the fuss was about. Jean then met Watts very shortly thereafter and that my dears is the beginning of that journey for them.
I was in thier wedding and Jean came to mine in '83. We visited when Elizabeth was a baby when they were in Ma for a visit and I was pregnant with my first.

I love Jean, I always said she had the creamiest white skin I had ever seen....creamy like milk, just beautiful. we never fought, I always have loved Jeanie for the wonderful friend she was to me. We shared many interests and loves. I wont go into that!

My only regret is that I didn't get to know Elizabeth and Charles and share more in our professional careers and daily life. But we did share many years and I suppose I had to let you all have the opportunity to make your own memories.

Raising Children

My friendship with Jean is more recent than some described in these wonderful postings - yet it is over 20 years old now. I measure the length of our relationship by the ages of our children (Jean's oldest, Elizabeth, and my only, Will) who are only three months apart in age.

I met Jean when we were both pregnant and I was teaching my first class in the School Psychology Program at UW-Madison. Jean was a student (outstanding, of course) in the class. But our friendship and professional collaboration was cemented when, two years later, Jean completed her year-long internship with me as her supervisor at the Waisman Center in Madison. Our professional work together was rich and stimulating; even now when we get together at conferences we jump immediately into discussions of our work. But our friendship has always had at its center our early parenting days together. While at the Waisman Center when the children were two years old, we regaled each other with stories of the kids (and, yes, sometimes the fathers). I'll never forget the day Jean bounded into my office and said "You will never guess what happened this morning!" That day Watts had combined the dregs of three different kinds of cereals into one bowl for Liz. Oh the shock! How could he??? Didn't he realize how upset she would be? We laughed until we cried. When we left to go to our first conference away from Madison (Nashville!) as mothers - leaving the children behind- we hooted and hollered as we drove away from her house - independent for four whole days. Yet at the end of our trip we could hardly wait to have those children (and fathers) in our arms.

We remain connected through our children. I love my updates on how Liz and Charles are doing. I hope to continue receiving them for a long time to come. All my love to all of you.

Jean, Cousin Diane, & Trudy @ Wedding/Jean with Baby Ottawa

My marriage to Drew a year ago was cause for celebration - a celebration that included a family reunion. Jean was my Matron of Honor and key in the planning and execution of a near flawless event. Many of the Arnold clan (Fran's side of the family) gathered here in South West Florida - some from as far away as New Hampshire, including our dear Aunt Helen. It was especially fun as many in attendance were cousins that Jean and I had not seen since our childhood summers at Grammy & Grampy's camp in Maine.

The next day, Jean hosted a brunch for the relatives - many stories, laughs, and Bloody Marys were shared. Jean did double duty that day as she was also babysitting our kids (quite spoiled ones) - Kevin & Shelly (Chihuahuas) and Ottawa (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) - while Drew and I spent a few days away. She was wise enough to wait until we got back (I checked on them several times by phone) to tell me that Kevin was nearly inconsolable at times, howling in the window thinking that his mama had left him. Ah, the duties of an aunt!!

The corner of Allen and Park Ave.

Yes, Jean and her family had a Park Avenue address! No, not NYC, welcome to Athol, Massachusetts! There are so many memories of Jean, Trudy and I hanging out together...a few that I would like to share.

I met Jean and Trudy a week before school started, mine and Trudy's freshman year. I had been away all summer at our house in New Hampshire, and didn't realize that a new pastor and his family had moved in. I was pleasantly surprised when I met Jean and Trudy, (girlfriends! Yeah!) because I had lived on Allen St. my whole life and the neighborhood was all boys. Because I had lived next door forever, I knew the inside of the house like the back of my hand. I used to sneak into the kitchen and slip up the back stairs to hang out, unbeknownst to Fran and Nit. (Nit, our nickname for Jack, I don't remember where or why??)

Fran and Nit endured hours and hours of us listening to the 8-track tape deck with Joe Walsh, Bad Finger, or Jethro Tull blaring. We spent many Sunday afternoons eating popcorn, drinking grape juice and listening to Deep Purple. Poor Christopher Robin, we teased him relentlessly. To this day, when I hear "Smoke on the Water", I'm back at Park Avenue with Jean and Trudy.

Jean's first crush??? Johnny P. We teased her relentlessly too!!

One winter, Trudy and I wore full length, wool Army coats and Jean wore a Navy one. It was all the rage in high school. We "borrowed" them from our dads or uncles, since most of them had been in WWII or the Korean War. I think they weighed about 100 lbs...they were very heavy! But, because they were cool, and lots of our friends were wearing them, we wore them!

Jean, Trudy and I had many, many teenage experiences together...some to share, some to keep private. I'll end here for now.

Jeanne
(or, as Fran used to say, "little Jeannie from next door"...get it? Jean and Jeanne - both pronounced the same. It was her way to refer to me.)

Collections

Jean and I have had many a laugh over the years at what Jean calls her best "Trudy Story", one she has shared with many. We go back to high school and Miss Brown's Biology class. Part of my obligation to fulfill course requirements was the assembling of various "collections" during the year. In Baker tradition, they became family projects. Those of you who knew Jack and Fran, know that we were not the outdoor type of family. Jean led the way through the woods in search of the right colors for the leaf collection, and was out in front of us with a jar and a butterfly net to get the specimens for the "bug" collection. The last collection of the year was one of fruit. Being a bit rebellious and very much over collections by that point, I assembled the final one myself.
Each time Jean told the story, she would laugh and laugh as she recounted my wiping off the heavy syrup from the pieces of fruit as I took them from the can to pin onto the styrofoam board. What put her on the floor every time was my placement of the final piece in the middle of the collection - a marachino cherry!!

Act Early - Acting Out

Jean,
Over a Christmas break at the Univ. of Georgia you and I ate pizza and keyboarded away putting together a proposal that became the ACT Early Project - Advancing the Competencies of Teachers for Early Interventions With Youth At-Risk for Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Problems...what a time that was, having Aderhold Hall quietly to ourselves as we wrote and edited. Little did I anticipate they would actually give us money to go out and have a wonderful and creative experience studying the individual, group, and systemic characteristics of students, their teachers, and their schools. What a delight, and truly rewarding. The project continued for three years with our ACT Early Team developing a culture of creative scholarship, with you, Randy Kamphous, and our graduate students working to change the world of assessment, evaluation, policy, and intervention. Then Michigan State called, but we continued the project another 4 years, and low and behold, students are still using the data today to make sense out of how our students develop and how teachers address the problems of individual and systemic behavior. A lot of "professorese" discussion to say: that was the most creative set of years and the most enjoyable and fun research project I've ever engaged in. You, my friend, happen to have been the spark, the element of creativity, the surge of energy, that made this project great. I learned an enormous amount from you and Randy and our students, and I continue to marvel at the shared experiences we had. And the great wine and bourbon discussions marked the memory well also.
I am still irked that Michigan State got you - we had such a wonderful team - and I miss the friendship. Thanks for reaching out and helping maintain the contacts all these years. We'll get LIFE done and then move on to other fun ways to be connected.
Now, as to recipes - our recipes were for fun and creativity...yet we cooked up some great plans, interventions, and projects. Thanks!
Hugs...Andy

Dunwurken

This is my very first entry on a blog, anywhere, ever... So I'm not quite sure if there is a protocol. But honestly, I've never been real concerned with protocol, so here goes...

Thoughts of Jean bring me right back to childhood summers at Grampy's camp on Little Pushaw Lake. Every summer I spent a week or two up there with the Baker's. My sweetest memory may be of the three of us - Trudy, Jean and me - jumping out of Grampy's small fishing boat, naked, into the the lake. Such a sweet innocence to it...

I remember Trudy and Jean were really into Batman and Robin, which is something I never could understand.

Another thing I never understood back then, but what I finally came to understand when I had my own child, was what I thought was this imaginery world that they had made up with their soft-spoken father, Jack. It seemed to me that Jack mostly whispered all the time. And he whispered a lot to Trudy and Jean. They made a lot of references to Pooh and Piglet. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I did know that they had a magical relationship with their father...one I envied. When my son, Tucker, was a few years old, we were introduced to the movies of Winnie the Pooh. They were delightful, and I was shocked to find that Winnie the Pooh had been a classic children's book , and the source of the magical world that I thought Trudy, Jean and Jack had created.

My summers at Dunwurken with Trudy and Jean are my favorite childhood memories. The end.

Recipies From Jean

God I do not know what I would have done with out her help. Amen

Jean is guided by several first principles.

1. Do it right the first time.
2. Always think six steps ahead
3. Peace and balance
4. Take time to enjoy life
5. It is hard for me to remember all of these so please add your own stories as to things that Jean has taught you or that you hold in common with her or taught her.

I'll add more as I go on.

The first step

Dear Friends and family,

We had a great Christmas, filled with all of the traditions of the season. The whole family attended Christmas Eve service at http://www.allsaints-el.org/

Spirits are strong as we walk through the valley.

Jean’s cancer has returned and has spread throughout her body. She is taking chemo therapy and I am praying that she will recover her strength. Two weeks ago I grew so concerned with her condition I called Hospice. The time for their care has not come. Her spirits are strong and we have many kind and loving friends that are praying for us and supporting us in many ways.

I invite your participation in this online forum.

Warm regards,

Watts