Jane Elizabeth Hanigan, born in Ludlow, Massachusetts, October 14, 1923, passed away peacefully at her home in Redwood City, California on November 17, 2023, surrounded by people who cared for her, loved, and admired her. Jane lived a long and full life, defined by a unique combination of strength, determination, passion for education, empathy for others, and an ability to find humor in almost any situation.
She is pre-deceased by her parents, William J. Hanigan and Mary Agnes Donnelly, as well as all five of her older siblings, Bill (William J. Hanigan, Jr.), Mae (Mary A. Welch), Frank (Frances T. Hanigan), Dottie (Dorothy Hanigan Simon), and Tom (Thomas J. Hanigan). She leaves behind scores of nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins and second cousins in whose lives she took great interest despite geographic distances. She also leaves behind stepsons John Pflug and Charles (Sandy) Plfug but is sadly pre-deceased by Leslie Scott (Pflug).
Jane's brothers Bill, Frank, and Tom all entered active service in the U.S. Army in WWII, while Dottie served in the WAVES, a division of the U.S. Navy. Four of six siblings serving in the War was unusual, and their story made the local newspapers. In later years, Jane often expressed her admiration for her brothers' active service and marveled that all of them made it back home.
Following the War, Jane met Abigail Leary, mother of Timothy Leary, later famous for his maxim "turn off, tune in and drop out." Abigail, Jane's supervisor at a radiation lab where they both worked, strongly encouraged Jane to realize her potential and go West to the University of California in Berkeley amid the era of the G-I bill and an opening for applications. After much persuading from Abigail, who became a lifelong, influential, and supportive friend, Jane arrived in Berkeley in 1950 chaperoned by Dorothy, newly discharged from the Navy and restless for adventure. Legend has it that Jane, Dorothy and at least four roommates took turns sleeping in a studio apartment as they were short on funds and post-war housing was scarce. The world had opened its doors to higher education for Jane (English Literature) and Dorothy (costume design). They had broadened experiences, exposure to the arts, a wide circle of friends and, in their telling, loads of fun. At one point Jane was unable to work and attend school; thus, Dorothy quit her dream of a life in fashion and worked full-time at a local department store so that her sister could continue her education. Jane worked hard at her studies, but with a credit short to graduate, she (not an athlete) took an archery class where she met another lifelong friend, Ella Mae (Ellie) Trussel who, along with the Trussel family, maintained a special friendship with Jane for over 70 years.
After graduating from Cal, Jane began her teaching career at Stockton High School, where she spent her spare time searching for books that would interest her students and lead them to appreciate reading. Later, Jane moved to Whittier in Southern California where she taught English at La Habra High School for five years. She returned to the Bay Area in 1960 to obtain a master's degree in English at San Francisco State University. After obtaining her Master's, she began a 30-year plus career at The College of San Mateo as a faculty member in the Language Arts Division. At CSM, her creativity and passion for reading, literature and learning found expression and flourished. In 1973, Jane, described as a "dynamic English instructor" in Class Act: College of San Mateo History, officially launched the innovative Women's Re-Entry Program, attracting women 25 years and older to return to school. This was one of the first such programs in the country and it was amazingly successful, boasting 110 students by 1980. Jane also established the "reading lab," another pioneering program, designed to encourage challenged readers as well as students learning the English language. Jane's willingness to listen and help her students achieve what even they did not think possible changed many lives. Honoring the occasion of Jane's 100th birthday, Harry Keiley, Board Chair of CALSTRS, wrote "[a]s a teacher myself, I understand the important role you played in the development of students....I hope you take pride in knowing that generations of Californians have benefited from your dedication to our profession."
In 1967, Jane married her colleague, Raymond J. Pflug. They embarked on a 25-year partnership that included traveling the world (on sabbatical), entertaining their many friends and colleagues in a salon-like atmosphere, and fully embracing a 1970's lifestyle. For Jane, this meant changes for women. Her activities in the movement included attending numerous conferences, supporting young artists like Ruth Asawa, and developing programs for the benefit of women. In keeping with the times, Jane and Ray established an "Encounter Group" where twenty or so like-minded individuals, mainly scientists, academics, and artists, met weekly at each other's homes to share their personal and professional challenges and seek constructive feedback and support. After 30 years, "The Group" disbanded, but Jane and Judy Squier, the only surviving members, shared a long, enduring friendship based on a love of art, theatre and music, and years of mutual understanding starting with their participation in "The Group."
In the early 1980's, a tiny black kitten trapped in a nearby shed ignited Jane's passion for lost animals and she began feeding, trapping, spaying, and neutering over one hundred feral cats that appeared increasingly at her door, all of whom she named and cared for. For over 30 years, she was an instrumental member of formal and informal feral cat assistance groups, including the Feral Cat Co-op of the Peninsula Humane Society and the Feral Cat Network Through this work, Jane met Coette Schmidt, a co-advocate, generous and loyal friend. Together, they raised awareness of the need for humane treatment of feral animals to a new level.
Jane retired from teaching in 1992. Following Ray's death in 1993, her creativity was free to flourish again. Without regard for gender, age, skeptics, conventional restrictions or obvious obstacles, Jane pressed ahead with great enthusiasm into numerous home design and landscaping projects gradually transforming her property into a rural oasis. Her passion for this work, problem solving and creating beautiful things from nothing, led her to frequently say that if she had it to do over again, she would be an interior designer.
During this time, Jane and Dorothy, now both widowed, became the dynamic duo they had been on their arrival in Berkeley, regularly attending the San Francisco Symphony (conducted by a young Michael Tilson Thomas), enjoying picnics and concerts at Stern Grove, becoming members of the Museum of Modern Art, traveling to see relatives, and hosting celebrations and epic dinner parties for every occasion. When they were not together, they spoke on the phone each night at 9pm, right up to the end of Dorothy's life in 2008.
Jane possessed a lifelong interest in politics that only increased in her retirement. At her peak, she consumed multiple newspapers and journal articles every day, as well as political radio and TV programs Jane was an avid supporter of women's rights, the underdog, and equity among races and economic strata. Jane loved a good argument, political or not, as well as provoking one. The argument was never over until she won, and she always won.
A wise and empathetic listener with a sympathetic ear, Jane was a magnet for people who were having trouble or needed encouragement or direction. Jane was also incredibly generous. When her niece Carrie (Dorothy's daughter) could not attend law school, Jane gave an eloquent graduation toast that included a promise to finance Carrie's dream of continuing her education which Jane reminded everyone was payback for Dorothy's sacrifice for her own.
From the Great Depression of the 1930's to cars that drive themselves, a larger and fuller life would be hard to find. Jane would want to thank her caregivers, Tess Chen, Yolanda Carandang, Myla Ilagen, Johnna Joyce and Ethyl Velasco for their hard work, enduring patience and for always searching for ways to make her laugh. We also recognize the staff of Vitas Hospice who ensured Jane's comfort and dignity in her final passage and provided loving care for us all. And, finally, Melody Chambers, Jane's trusted companion, protector, house manager and advocate, as well as tireless collaborator on countless home improvement projects for 29 years, is recognized as a model of loyalty and all that a friend should be.
Some would say it is counter-intuitive to grieve for a centenarian but there is a feeling of great loss and a void in our hearts that Jane E. Hanigan filled to the brim. In the words of her favorite author, Emily Dickenson:
That it will never come again is what makes life sweet.
A memorial to celebrate Jane's life is planned for late March 2024. Contact carrieasimon@yahoo.com for information. And please make any donations in Jane's honor to the Peninsula Humane Society-SPCA, to the Democratic Party or to Democratic Party campaigns, particularly to those of the LGBTQ community and women of color.