Jeanne Hatch

In celebration of a life lived well -  Jeanne Hatch, Professor Emeritus (1926 - 2022)

“Jeanne Hatch rocks!”  So said her students when Professor Jeanne Hatch retired in 1999, after thirty years of teaching, directing, and performing at Holyoke Community College and beyond.

Jeanne Hatch passed away February 9, 2022 at her home in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  She was predeceased by her ex-husband, William H. Hatch.  She is survived by her son, Beaumont Hatch, daughter-in-law Chris, and grandsons, Wyatt and Tyler of Oak Ridge, Tennessee as well as Patricia Sandoval, her friend of forty years, and Patricia’s family. Dorothy Jeanne Hardy was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1926 to Pansy B. (Kelleher) and Lesley L. Hardy.  She attended Kansas City Junior College and the University of Iowa, where she was a cheerleader and member of Kappa Kappa Gamma (and proudly sang the pledge song upon request, or not).  After graduation, she and a classmate went to Cuba where afterwards she delighted in telling the story of meeting and having a drink with Ernest Hemmingway on his boat.  Jeanne went on to earn an M.S. in Speech and Drama from the University of Kansas in 1950.  After moving to the Pioneer Valley, she worked at Smith College and enjoyed telling of having interviewed Julie Nixon, President Nixon’s daughter.  At Holyoke Community College, she taught Speech, Oral Interpretation, and Masterpieces of World Literature.  She delighted audiences by performing in many productions directed by Leslie Phillips, Roy Faudree, and Tom Scheiding including The Seagull, Getting Out, and The Importance of Being Earnest.  Beyond HCC, she performed at Springfield Symphony Hall and with Roy Faudree’s No Theater which led to a collaboration and a thirteen year gig with The Young @Heart Chorus with Musical Director, Bob Cilman. The “Hearts” performed locally and internationally, travelling to Singapore, Norway, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Zurich, Berlin, and London.  Jeanne was featured in the documentary film about The Young@Heart Chorus.  Although Ella Fitzgerald was her favorite singer and Shakespeare her favorite playwright, Jeanne could sizzle Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and sling a six shooter in Kitchen Heat.  Jeanne rocked on the stage and in the classroom.  She loved horses, books, traveling, laughing, her many friends, her family - near and far, and a good bourbon-old fashioned with extra bitters.  Her family is most grateful to her wonderful caregivers over the years, HomeWatch Caregivers of Springfield, Massachusetts, Baystate Hospice, and her final caregiver who became her friend, Marilyn Rivera of Holyoke, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the Leslie Phillips Fund through the Holyoke Community College Foundation. In accordance with Jeanne’s wishes, there will be no service.  As she requested, there will instead be a party at a date to be announced, in celebration of her life, lived well. O’Brien Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. For more information or to make online condolences please go to obrienfamilyfh.com.