Jean Keiser Stevenson, MD
Jean Keiser Stevenson, M.D. July 7, 1918 -- March 23, 2006 On March 23, 2006, Jean Keiser Stevenson, M.D., of Hamden, died peacefully in the presence of her loving family. Dr. Stevenson is survived by one son, David M. Stevenson of New Haven, CT, and three daughters; Joan V. Stevenson of Storrs, CT; Martha Stevenson Harper of Ojai, CA; and Elizabeth J. Stevenson of Greenwich CT. She is also survived by five grandchildren; Alex Kramer of Lakeville, CT; Lara Kramer of Northhampton, MA; Mia Allouf of Greenwich, CT; and Jamie and John Stevenson of Poughkeepsie, NY. Dr. Stevenson was also the proud great-grandmother of Noah Kramer of Lakeville, CT. Dr. Stevenson was born on July 7, 1918 in Plainfield, NJ to the late Arthur Lowell Keiser and Mary MacCurrach Keiser. She is predeceased by her only brother Arthur Lowell Keiser Jr. Dr. Stevenson was a 1936 graduate of the Hartridge School in Plainfield, NJ. She received her B.A. from Vassar College in 1940, and her M.D. from Albany Medical College in 1944. From 1944 -- 1946, Dr. Stevenson trained as a medical intern and resident in pediatrics at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. On August 11, 1945, she married Edward Vicars Stevenson, M.D. They practiced medicine in the Windham County, CT area between 1949 and 1956. In 1968, Dr. Stevenson was named chairman of the Vassar College Health Department where she practiced adolescent medicine until her retirement in 1980. She served for many years on the Board of Visitors and Trustees for the New York State Training School for Girls in Hudson, New York, as well as at Planned Parenthood of Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1978, Dr. Stevenson was named President of the New York State College Health Association. She was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she served in many volunteer capacities throughout the years. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 1st at 12 noon at Christ Episcopal Church in Pomfret, CT. A Memorial Service will be held at a date to be announced in June at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, New York. Arrangements in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, 4901 Main Street, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64112-2634 or Planned Parenthood, 17 Noxon St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
As a teenage girl growing up in the 60’s and being a visiter in the Stevenson houshold. Dr Stevenson was always an inspiration to me. Not many women were as accomplished as Jean. Most doctors were men, like my dad, not women. Her career focus, family life, and straight talk, uplifted my spirits. Even when we disagreed, she had honesty and integrity and could always be relied on for a heart felt answer to any question asked. she was a rare breed. Thankfully all of her children reflect her resiliance and strenth of charater. What a lucky family that her legacy lives on in so many. Much Love, Nancy Dreishpoon-Goldwitz
Bravo for the reunion of the fruitcakes! It’s about time, you are all neat people and good. Not that Jean couldn’t raise some hackles. Just try sailing with her. But she accomplished a lot and raised you well. I loved her delight in hunter/gathering when she was clamming, picking berries on the moors,fishing for porgies at Madaket or in the harbor. Ole
Dear Dave and family, My thoughts are with you all at this time of loss.
Dear Dave, Your Mom had a wonderful, loving life and she touched many people with her kindness and generosity. I know this is a difficult time for you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. John
Dear David and Family, We were saddened to hear of the loss of your mother. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you, your children and entire family at this time. God bless you all. Take care. Sincerely, Mary Jean Sweeney Susan Vining
Dear Stevenson Children, My prayers are with your family. I have wonderful memories of your mother and spent many fun filled summers with her on Nantucket going sailing,clamming,swimming, the Fourth of July fireworks,beach walks, picking rosemary on Coatue, berry picking,birding, thrift shop bargain hunting and of course, picking through the Madaket Dump for treasures. Dr. Stevenson was a member of our family and lovingly kept the Carroll chldren and our Dad on track. She was a great friend and will be missed.Please know you have friends on Nantucket. With love, Margaret Carroll-Bergman
Dear Woodie and Bo … While those teen years and Beechwood Park seem a life time ago, I often think of the great times I had with you two and all the times we spent at your house. Your mom was always so nice to have all us kids around. There isn’t a visit home that I don’t walk through Beechwood Park and look at your house and think of you all. My thoughts are with you now. Karen
Dear Woodie, I met your mother briefly many years ago, but feel I was able to get to know her better by reading through memories of those who knew her well. She indeed sounds like she lead a rich life, doing so many things that I also enjoy. One thing is for sure… she must have been amazing to have a daughter like you… You are very specia! All my love, Mara
Dear Woodie: Since 1986 I have had the privilege of knowing Jean — it took a while for our friendship to develop, but she was there for me when I needed her in 1999. I remember the evening cocktail at 6 reviewing the days news. Also her asking me what I would going to do with my life other than golf and gardening. I should be out there doing something much more constructive. I got a great chuckle out of that. Through her, a wonderful family (Woodie, Jacques, and Mia) has taken me into their hearts and I have been blessed to have you as neighbors. I thank her for that. Much love, Diane
Dr. Jean was a great neighbor from way back in Poughkeepsie and then Nantucket! She taught me how to jump off my bike as it was racing down Franklin Street hill toward a busy intersection with no brakes,(back in ’60) and ever since then I test my brakes before going down long hills. I’m glad Jerry didn’t mention the broken beer bottles poor Dr. Jean had to navigate when she went sailing with him in the Highlander. May be Ole will let us borrow the Old Towne some day. Hi Bo.
I am so sorry to hear of Jean’s passing. I got to know her during the summers that I worked on the farm in the mid-70’s. I liked her a lot. She was a no-nonsense boss, but always fed me very well. I remember those times fondly. Seems we were always running down the driveway after some horse in the middle of the night. Love to you all, Haeb
I give thanks for the life of my friend Jean. She was gentle and strong, compassionate and dedicated. Her life was all of a piece: she brought her many gifts to the service of her family, her friends, her students, her patients ,her church.
I see the light of your mom in my beautiful, loving and caring friend, Woodie. May memories and love hold you tight.
I wrote this as I was falling asleep while away at college after hearing the news. I was going to take the confused parts out of it and post it, but after several months, I’ll just post as it was: Jean, if I could write to you now-well maybe it’s not such a good way to start off a letter with a hypothetical. I’ll just talk. But no, in this modern day of the impenetrable self, I’m not sure if I could or if I’d want to try to open up how we always seemed to appreciate each other for what we were, whatever craziness that was. This style of mine right now seems horribly high-flung even to me, but high-flung- maybe it works sometimes. It seemed like you always had a smile for me, even when you were being gruff, and your eye always had a twinkle, even when you couldn’t hear me and would ask me, -What’s that?- thrusting your head to the side. My parents told me stories about your picking up the clams and stuffing them in your bathing suit. I admired that. And I guess you’re the closest person I can imagine to Madaket Milly because I think of you as saving souls from the ocean and saying, -Now what were doing out there, silly.- Or something like that, because it’s been awhile and I remember more of your tone than actually expressions. But you are so much a part of the real Nantucket: the salt in the air, the drift wood, the reeds in the giant snapping turtle realm, the unvarnished, wonderful part of it. I will think of you whenever I am there and whenever I see your beautiful family. Love, Erik
It was a beautiful summer day, and the wind was 7 knots gusting to 12 out of the North. We were on a Port tack five miles out from Nantucket breakwater heading to Great Point and the secret clam bed that, per order of Dr. Stevenson, Ole will never-ever find out about. Dad had just pulled out his flask and observed the wind shifting from North to South West and a fog bank forming over Tuckernut Soals heading our way. So, I followed the orders of my elders and betters, and turned the craft around on a heading for the East Jetty. With a mutinous look in her eye, Dr. Jean skillfully trimmed the Jib and Main under Dad’s supervision as Mary wondered aloud how to make .Clams Casino. without clams. The boat accelerated as the wind picked up to a steady 20 knots, and we were making good time even though we were bucking a three knot tide. A heated discussion between Dad and Dr. Stevenson erupted as to whether the main should be reefed, or the biggest guy moves from the leeward to the high side of the boat. The wind picked up, and choppy waves started breaking over the bow making everyone wet. We made the entrance to Nantucket Harbor, and suddenly, we were engulfed in pea soup fog. Fog so thick, that the the cleat on the bow was barely visible. Then, the wind died, and Dr. Stevenson declared .We are in irons!. During this time, we could hear the doppler effect of an approaching horn blast, and the throbbing Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of a very large propeller. Dad declared .The steamship is bearing down on us.. The steamship missed us, Dad pulled out his flask, Mary pulled out her rosary, and we all know what Dr. Jean and Dad did. Needless to say, we followed the dial tone on fog enshrouded Brant Point Lighthouse and arrived safely. Oh, this is what Dr. Jean taught us to sing when she thought we were going to go down with the ship that day: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard And hushed their raging at Thy word, Who walked’st on the foaming deep, And calm amidst its rage didst sleep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
Jerry, great entry! Get out your flask, and let’s talk clams… Every time I think of Jean, I think of some other story. Like the time before Jean had built her house on Nantucket, Mary and I were driving from our jobs in Alaska to Nantucket via Poughkeepsie to pick up the Old Town dinghy sailer Jean had offered us for 100 clams. It was upside down on a pile of dirt in the barn, a woodchuck lived under its twelve wooden feet and had gnawed a little entry arch in a gunnel. We got the boat out to the island though, got a new sail, new used trailer, replaced all the hardware (steel) with bronze and brass, sanded and painted every year, and sailed like mad. It turned out very well for Jean too because she was then able to use the boat when she came out to the island. It was slow though. She got a motorboat which sank at its mooring. .Stinkpots!. she said, .Stinkpots!. and got rid of that boat. Love, Ole
May you have love, and bliss in your rebirth. May forgiveness of ourselves and others be a symbol of your passing. I know Daddy, Ann, Alma, and God are all holding you now. Woodie
Ole, It sounds as if Jean bested you on the boat, if that is at all possible! My brothers took Jean out on their Highlander, and in later years on their O’Day. I remember sometimes just the girls: Mother, Anne, Jean and I would take a handmade wooden boat to the head of the harbor. What I always loved best about Jean, in addition to her thrift and Yankee ingenuity, is that she was a good sport,and while she might have been mildly irritated by a broken centerboard or a frayed line or a jammed block, she loved to mess around in small boats and was always grateful for an invitation to get out on the open water. Margaret
The Eisberg family — Al, Lillian, Deborah and also Merry’s daughter, Elizabeth and granddaughter, Sincerity — wish to acknowledge the life that Mrs. Dr. Jean Stevenson lived. This acknowledgement is especially in the memory of Merry, sister and daughter. Merry spent many happy times playing with Bo and the other Stevensons in the Stevenson household so many years ago. Throughout her life she considered those times a high point in her life. We will hold Jean Stevenson, the Stevenson families and Meredith Eisberg in the light. Deborah Eisberg