Dr. Jean Tetmeyer Gillen
Dr. Jean T. Gillen, 62, wife of Gene Gillen of 125 Old Towne Rd., Cheshire passed away March 26, 2003 in CT Hospice, Branford. She was born in New Haven, May 6, 1940 a daughter of Sonya Kissel Tetmeyer of North Haven and the late Gus Tetmeyer and had lived in Cheshire for many years. Jean graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1958 and earned a BS Degree from S.C.S.U. and Ph. D. from the University of CT. She was a school psychologist in the Cheshire Public School System for 30 years. Following retirement she had been active in the Cheshire Garden Club and had been chairwomen of the Garden Spot of the Month Selection Committee. She was the loving mother of three children, Jennifer Gillen of New Britain, Wendy Amenta and her husband Gerry of West Hartford and Peter Gillen of Cheshire. She is also survived by a brother, William Tetmeyer and is wife Sue of Honolulu, HI and her favorite Aunt Vi Kelly of North Haven. Funeral from BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Saturday morning, March 29 at 9:15. Christian burial service in Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, 285 Alden Ave., New Haven at 10. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 p.m. Panichida service at 7:30. Burial in Beaverdale Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be sent to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405.
Dear Gene and Family, I extend to all of you my sincere sympathy. Jean was such a gentle loving person who helped all. I have many wonderful memories of her which I will always cherish. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Bea Delane
Deepest sympathy to the Gillen family!
Dr. Gillen was an outstanding person and educator. She assisted me with children of various emotional backgrounds when I first came to teach as a Special educator in Cheshire. Her concern for children\’s and colleagues\’wellbeings did not go unnoticed. My deepest sympathy is extended to her family. We must hold onto the fond memories.
I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Jean Gillen. I was a colleague of Jean for many years in the Cheshire School system. Her kind, patient and thoughtful demeanor always impressed me. In my younger years, she was a solid rock and sounding board. She often calmed my outrage at the administration\’s actions with a calm and soothing word or phrase which allowed me to put things in to perspective. She is a person who will be missed by thoses who knew her. Again, deep condolences.
I was a colleague of Jean\’s in the Cheshire Public School System. As a rookie, I relied on Jean for support as I tried to fit in at a new school. She was a kind and thoughtful woman who always had a positive perspective. She was so valuable in helping my students deal with everyday life. She left us far too early and will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family at this difficult time. Kimberly Carew
It was an honor to work with Jean. She treated everyone with respect. She had a sense of dignity, intelligence, curiosity, humor, and a unique blend of realism and optimism. She celebrated both student and teacher successes and was an advocate for educational excellence. She was kind, gentle, caring, compassionate, insightful, honest….all you could hope for in a school psychologist position. She was a collegue and a friend and she is very missed. Our prayers go to the Gillen family.
It was my great pleasure and privilege to be a colleague of Jean\’s. I always admired her wonderful doll house–and coveted it! She is very much missed in the Cheshire schools and we all mourn her passing.
Jean has always been an inspiration to all of us in education. Her kind, gentle way was truly a testament to the great lady she was. She will be missed by her teacher friends and students alike.
Jean was a first class lady, always thinking and doing what was right for children. I had such respect for her, the way she always was such a professional to staff and parents. We will all miss her.
Jean was a professional caring and thoughtful colleague who shared concern for the children and adults she worked with. I will miss her.
Jean was a true professional who was an ardent yet thoroughly tactful supporter of what she knew was best for the students here at Doolittle, despite what current .Conventional Wisdom. might have been. Discussions of children whom she tested were consistently insightful, emphathetic and basically .right on.. She performed he role with grace under pressure, and did it with aplomb. I held the utmost respect for her, and was overjoyed when she finally received her doctorate degree. Jean was a dear and wonderful friend. I loved her as a human being. I will sorely miss her.
Jean was the person that held me together the first few years of teaching. I was a special education teacher, overwhelmed with teaching my students. Jean made me laugh, counseled me, and helped me to put things into perspective. What a wonderful caring person who always took the time to let children and adults know that she cared. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Beth Proto
The beautifully written obituary only begins to describe my cousin, Jean. Who couldn\’t love her? She was a kind, patient and very caring person. When I little, I loved to follow her around. It was a big thrill for me to get to drive around with her in her little blue Volkswagen. I also got to be one of her test subjects when she was studying at Southern. She always made things fun. When I was 10 years old I had the honor of being a Junior Bridesmaid in her wedding. Aunt Sonia made my pretty blue gown and Aunt Vi bought me a pretty tiara headpiece. I felt very special. Jean and Gene always had intersting art work in their houses. I was fascinated by the statue of the nudes kissing which sat on their coffee table on Sheldon Terrace. When they moved to Cheshire I would go for overnight visits. I loved being in her house. She always had such style. Through the years our family got together for birthdays and holidays and just to get together. Jean was a great entertainer and a very lovely person. I will miss her very much.
What a wonderful, thoughful, and caring person Jean was. She provided help to her colleagues and was an outspoken advocate for the children of Cheshire. She will surely be missed.