Edhat StaffJan Hope passed away peacefully in Ojai, California on October 24th, 2017. She had lived with COPD for a number of years.
Jan was born on August 30th, 1928 in Plainfield, New Jersey, the middle sibling to older sister Barbara(Hunter) and younger sister Joan(Wagner), both deceased. Her parents were Nathan and Gladys Boylan. She graduated from Plainfield High School, and began commuting to work for Ma Bell in New York City. Several years after WW II, she met her future husband Malcolm (Mickey) Hope. They were married in 1948, and were together until Mickey’s premature passing in 1976 due to heart disease. Together they raised four children, Jacqueline (Salem, Oregon), Cynthia (Santa Fe, New Mexico), Barclay (Ojai, California), and Nancy (Loveland, Colorado). She also had five grandchildren (Jesse Kennedy, Tucker Hope, Daron Hope, Ryan Railsback, and Brooks Hope) and one great-grandchild (J.J. Kennedy).
Jan possessed a keen intellect, a love of debate(especially politics) and sports (baseball and football), and a special passion for traveling. She was a lifelong devotee of Duplicate Bridge, attaining a Life Master status. She was the family impetus to get away from New Jersey and towards upstate New York (first to Ithaca and then to Stillwater) where the two oldest children completed their schooling. Malcolm’s declining health spurred her to move the family out west to a warmer environment, landing in Santa Barbara, California in 1969. Jan began working for the University of California at Santa Barbara, first at the Economics department and eventually moving to the ROTC department where she retired after 14 years altogether. While at UCSB, she was elected the Staff Association President for a term, and received a letter of commendation from then-Chancellor Robert Huttenback. Upon her retirement, Jan purchased a piece of Admiral’s Travel in Santa Barbara, where she was able to indulge her desire to see the world and help others do the same. She loved to share her travel stories and pictures, and ended up visiting many countries on all continents, including Antarctica (her favorite trip!)
Jan moved from Santa Barbara to Ojai in April of 2016 due to her declining health and desire to be closer to family. She lived independently at the Gables of Ojai for a year, until a need for skilled nursing necessitated a move to the Continuing Care Unit at Ojai Valley Community Hospital in July of this year. Jan’s children wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the compassionate care demonstrated by the staffs in both units, and particular thanks to Carol McCormick and the wonderful, caring folks at Livingston Hospice.
Jan was often described as “feisty”. She was a person of strong opinions and beliefs, and was vocal when she perceived wrongdoing. She lived a vibrat, passionate, and full life! She was always a proponent of women’s health and rights, and asked that in lieu of flowers, to please donate to your local or national chapter of Planned Parenthood. A Memorial Service is planned for late January in Santa Barbara.
