Arlene V. Jennings

1939 - 2025

Arlene V. Jennings

Northampton, MA - Arlene V. Jennings, Scholar, Educator, Genealogist, dies at 85

Born in Topeka, Kansas, 1939, Arlene grew up on her family's farm. Daughter to Dolf and Mildred Jennings, big sister to Margaret (Peggy), farm life and family trips to National Parks inspired a love of nature. She spent summers in Montana acting in summer stock at Montana State University. At University of Montana she discovered a passion for learning languages and majored in French. She received an MA in French Literature, from University of Washington, and was a teaching fellow of French in the Department of Romance Languages at University of Michigan.

In 1965 she won a Fullbright Fellowship to the University of Bucharest to study Romanian. There she met and married Robert Geis, and they worked together to launch the Biblioteca Americana (The American Library) in Bucharest, the first American cultural center behind the Iron Curtain. Arlene was the Director of Courses and taught English to Romanian teachers of English. She and Robert moved to Leningrad, USSR, in 1975 for an assignment at the American Consulate General. When there were no opportunities for her to work with the consulate she earned her wings as the Services Representative for Pan American Airways in Leningrad. In 1977 She and Robert divorced and Arlene moved to New York, to continue her work with Pan Am, and a lifelong adventure in the travel industry. She was a flight attendant, purser, supervisor, and manager. In 1983 she joined Inter-Continental Hotels as a manager and later director of training. In 1990, she founded her company, Global Training Solutions, developing courses for clients in cross-cultural effectiveness, customer service, management development, and organizational change.

In 1988 she married Warner Blase Katterhagen. They enjoyed spending time in Manhattan and a log home in Tyringham, MA with their golden retrievers. In her retirement, Arlene became a certified genealogist. She moved to Northampton, Massachusetts in 2015 to be near her daughter and family. She enjoyed walking in the woods around Fitzgerald Lake, and giving treats to the many dogs she met.

Arlene was loved. Married to Michael Evans (1961-65), Robert K. Geis (1966-1977), and Warner Blase Katterhagen (1988-2012). She is survived by her daughter Katherine J. Geis, granddaughter Tess Geis-Benton, son-in-law Douglas Benton, sister Margaret Steffel, step daughters Kelly Katterhagen, and Kathleen Katterhagen.

A memorial service will be announced for Spring of 2025.