Jane Eskind

1933 - 2016

Eskind, Jane,

Jane Eskind, a groundbreaking leader for women's rights, education and the arts, and the first woman to win statewide elected office in Tennessee, died August 4, 2016 after a long illness. She was 83. Mrs. Eskind was born in Louisville, Ky., on May 18, 1933, and graduated from the University of Louisville in 1956.

Mrs. Eskind was a leading advocate for progress and social justice in Nashville. She was prominent as a national political leader, serving twice on the Democratic National Platform Committee. Mrs. Eskind was the first woman to chair the Tennessee Democratic Party and the first to run for statewide office when she won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 1978. Two years later she won a seat on the three-person state Public Service Commission, becoming the first woman elected to statewide office in Tennessee. She later became chair of the Public Service Commission.

Former President Bill Clinton called her "the picture of perseverance and bravery." He said that, because of her "determination and commitment to win, she was an example to all women that they, too, could break into the so-called man's world.

Former Vice President Albert Gore Jr., who sought Mrs. Eskind's advice and guidance through the years, said, "Jane Eskind was a selfless public servant and dynamic leader with a tremendous spirit who made history in Tennessee politics.

Mrs. Eskind was active in an array of causes and organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the International Women's Forum and the Women Executives in State Government, for which she was a charter member. From 1978 to 1980, she chaired the Tennessee Commission on the Status of Women. She later was named trustee to the Vice President's Residence Foundation and to the Brandeis University Board of Trust. Mrs. Eskind was involved in a number of local community organizations, including Nashville CARES, the Legal Aid Society, the Nashville Institute for the Arts, the League of Women Voters, the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on African-American Church Studies and more.

The Louisville, Ky., native was educated at Brandeis University and the University of Louisville. Later, Jane and her brother, John, created the Samuel L. Greenebaum Pro Bono Program at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law. She and her husband, Richard, lived in Nashville for 59 years after they left Louisville.

Mrs. Eskind is survived by her husband of more than 62 years, Richard J. Eskind, daughter Ellen Lehman and son Billy Eskind (Jamie), both of Nashville; brother and sister-in-law John and Mary Greenebaum of Louisville; sister-in-law Annette Eskind of Nashville; grandchildren Jeremy Lehman, Madeline Eskind, Doni Lehman, Alec Eskind, Isaac Eskind and Jude Eskind; nieces and nephews Steve and Laurie Eskind, Jeff and Donna Eskind, Sam Greenebaum, Anastasia Greenebaum, Eliott Greenebaum, Michael Eskind, Julie Eskind, David Eskind (Megan), Matt Eskind, and Sara Eskind; and special friends Doris Medlin, Gladys Bender, Kenny Katzoff and Tim Holder.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Alfred Selligman and Jennie Katz Selligman, Cora Popper Greenebaum and Samuel Lewis Greenebaum, and her parents, Doni Selligman Greenebaum and Samuel Lewis Greenebaum Jr.

The service will be held at Congregation Micah, 2001 Old Hickory Blvd, Brentwood, TN, on Wednesday, August 10, at 10:30 a.m. A reception will follow.

Memorial contributions can be made to:

•The Jane Eskind Endowment Fund to benefit The Women's Fund c/o The Community Foundation, 3833 Cleghorn Ave., Nashville, TN 37215;

•The League of Women Voters Education Endowment Fund c/o The Community Foundation, 3833 Cleghorn Ave., Nashville, TN 37215;

•The Congregation Micah Endowment Fund c/o The Community Foundation, 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, Nashville, TN 37215; or

•The charity of your choice.