- February 19, 2025
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Jean Emert Gavin passed away peacefully at her home in Winter Park, on Feb. 12, 2016 at the age of 92.
She had been a resident of Winter Park since moving there in 1980 with her husband, Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin, U.S. Army retired. Gen. Gavin passed away in 1990. They were married for 42 years. Before moving to Winter Park, they lived in the Boston area for over 20 years. Jean lived in many states and three countries in Europe as the wife of an active Army officer, who was then president and chairman of the Board of Arthur D. Little, in Cambridge, Mass. until the 1970s, and President Kennedy’s United States Ambassador to France from 1961-62. Jean grew up in Knoxville, Tenn., the daughter of Laurence M. and Chloe G. Emert. She attended the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the Tri Delta sorority. Jean was an avid golfer, reader and lover of the arts.
She was an active member of the communities in which she lived. For all her years in Boston, she attended the Friday afternoon concerts at the Boston Symphony. She was a gallery instructor at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where she volunteered for 15 years.
Prior to this she served on the Ladies Committee, known today as the Museum Associates of the MFA.
Jean was also a volunteer and fundraiser for the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, the New England Baptist Hospital, Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, Mass. and Sturbridge Village, Mass. Jean and her husband were members of The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., the Oyster Harbors Club and the Wianno Club on Cape Cod, and founding members of The Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park. Jean is survived by her four daughters, Caroline McNeill of Wilton, Conn., Patricia Cincotta of San Diego, Ca., Marjorie Lewis of Brookline, Mass. and Chloe Beatty of Riverside, Conn. and seven grandchildren: Anna, Chloe and Eve Lewis and Thomas, James, John and Matthew Beatty.
There will be a private family internment at West Point at a future date. Donations in Jean's name are welcome and can be sent to: The Gallery Instructor Program/MFA, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115.