Eleanora Jadwin

Eleanora Hays Jadwin

Resident of Palo Alto

Aug. 28, 1933 - Oct.2, 2010

Eleanora Jadwin, a fifty-year resident of Palo Alto, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 2, 2010 after a battle with colon cancer. Eleanora was born in Oklahoma in 1933 to John Floyd Hays and Anita Schneider Hays. The family emigrated to California in 1934 where they established a new life in the Central Valley. In spite of hard times, the family thrived. All five Hays children graduated from college and pursued professional careers.

Eleanora met her future husband, Raymond Jadwin, at a college student leadership conference at Asilomar, their first date a tennis game. Their 54-year marriage produced three daughters: Andrea Jadwin of San Francisco; Lisa Jadwin [Steve Dern‚] of Rochester, NY; and Laura Jadwin of Pacific Grove. Her family life was among her greatest treasures.

Teaching was essential to Eleanora's life. After teaching elementary school in Inglewood, she spent a decade as a full-time mother, then returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in the Palo Alto schools. In 1973, she combined her parenting and teaching skills in the PreSchool Family program, which involves parents directly in childhood education. In 1982, Eleanora began a 13-year career as PSF Program Coordinator.

Eleanora was a lifelong athlete whose enthusiasms included biking and tennis. After "retirement" in the mid-1990s, she continued her work with young children. She loved to read, garden, cook, and sew. Throughout her life she enjoyed theatre and music and traveled worldwide with friends and family. She had a gift for friendship, and was deeply loved for her generosity, her sense of humor, and her ability to accept and nurture those in her care. Inspired by notable mentors (Betty Rogaway and Ethel Young), she became an invaluable mentor to others.

You are invited to a celebration of Eleanora's life at Greendell School at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Eleanora's name to Friends of PreSchool Family at http://www.fopsf.org.