Janet Poskas

Janet Witte Tanner Poskas died on April 2, 2013 after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. She was the daughter of Michael and Louise Witte and the wife of Peter Poskas. She also leaves behind her son Peter Poskas III, wife Sara and her granddaughter, Isabelle. She was predeceased by her sister Lois Witte Dolcemascio and is survived by her brothers Michael and John Witte and their families.
Janet received her B.A. in economics from Mount Holyoke College in 1966. She went on to receive her M.B.A. in finance from Columbia University Business School in 1971, her M.A.R. in ethics from Yale Divinity School in 1998, and began persuing a Ph.D. in economics and ethics from the New School University in 2000.
She worked in Washington, D.C., at American Security and Trust from 1966-1969 as a security analyst. She moved to Hartford, Conn., in 1971, where she was Assistant VP in investments for Aetna until 1982. She started Tanner Capital Corporation, her own venture capital firm, in Boston, Mass., in 1972 where she remained as principal until 1990. After her marriage to Peter in 1990, she closed her business and moved to Washington, Conn., where she lived until the time of her death.
She took a position as adjunct professor of Applied Ethics at Fairfield University in 1998 where she continued to work for the rest of her life. This work was profoundly satisfying to her as she wanted to leave the world a little better than she found it. Jan will be remembered by her family, friends, colleagues and students for her love of learning, dedication and above all for her kindness, generosity and caring nature.
Her family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors and the entire oncology staff at New Milford Hospital, especially to her personal physician, Dr. Alphonse Altorelli, and to all her dear friends, who supported and helped her over the last five years.
There will be a memorial service to honor Jan on Sunday, May 5, at 2: p.m. at The Washington Congregational Church in Washington, Conn. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Children's Community School 31 Wolcott St . Waterbury, CT 06702 or Washington Citizens Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 243, Washington Depot, CT 06794, or to M.I.S.C.A., Monhegan Island, ME 04852, or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Norwalk, CT 06851.
The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St. is in charge of arrangements. To place an online condolence, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.