Jean-Marie Eagler

Jean-Marie Eagler CHESAPEAKE - Jean-Marie Eagler, 59, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 in her residence surrounded by her loving family. Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Anthony and Lois Goode Romano. Jean-Marie graduated and was valedictorian at Tidewater Community College and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, received her B.A. magna cum laude in 1997 at Virginia Wesleyan College and her Master of Education at Regent University in 2002. Through her business GrantsConnect and her spirit of volunteerism and mentoring, Jean-Marie was dedicated to improving the environment, and making the lives of those in the Chesapeake and Hampton Roads area a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Jean-Marie Eagler received in December 2010, the Pioneer Award for more than 20 years of dedicated volunteerism as a member and officer of the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council. Jean-Marie helped coordinate and served on many of the CEIC committees and activities, such as Clean the Bay Day, the Arbor Day programs, Clean and Green Poster Contests, Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup, and Notable Yard Contests. Additionally, she has served in a parallel capacity at the Chesapeake Arboretum, becoming president over the years, and continued her volunteer service to the Elizabeth River Project and was on the forefront of the activities of the Citizens Alliance to Prevent Imported Trash, a successful collaboration that opposed a mega-landfill in Camden County, North Carolina. Furthermore, Jean-Marie received the Mayor's Environmental Stewardship Award and the Outstanding Citizen Award from CEIC. In memory of her stewardship to our community many trees will be planted in memory of her. She is survived by her parents; her daughter, Jessalyn Eagler and fiancé James; her son, Hogan Eagler; her brother, Vincent Romano and his wife Marilyn; her sister, Lisa Romano and husband Gregory Susla; her granddaughter, Riley Marie. She is also survived by her three nephews, Michael, Elliott and Nicholas Romano. A celebration of Jean's life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, in the Great Bridge Chapel of Oman Funeral Home & Crematory, 653 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. The Rev. Thomas Mercer will officiate. A commemoration will be held in the spring at the Chesapeake Arboretum and will be published. Friends are also invited to send condolences and sign the online guestbook at www.omanfh.com.