Jeanne A. Sturim

1939 - 2018

BORN

1939

DIED

2018

About

Washington University

Jeanne Sturim Obituary

STURIM, JEANNE (BOEHME), A.
A Rhode Island artist and designer Jeanne Boehme Sturim, whose award-winning works have been shown in New York and throughout New England, died in Providence on January 9 after a short illness.
She was married to Dr. Howard Sturim for 56 years and together they raised their three sons in Barrington, RI. The family enjoyed summers on the water and sailed extensively throughout the Northeast. She and her husband moved to Providence after he retired in 1998. For 21 years they spent half of the year in Sundance, Utah. There they skied in the winter, hiked in the summer and enjoyed the beautiful mountains and local adventures.
A juried artist member of the Art League of RI, the Providence Art Club, the Attleboro Museum, the Pastel Society of America and the Connecticut Pastel Society, Jeanne showed her work in many juried exhibitions and her pastels and paintings are in several permanent collections including the Providence Art Club and the Lutheran Heritage Museum in Altenburg, Missouri. Her awards include the Hunter Editions Award of Excellence, Renaissance in Pastel Exhibition, Connecticut Pastel Society Annual Exhibition, First Place in Pastel, Cape Cod Art Exhibition and the Providence Art Club Award, Providence Art Club Members Exhibition and Words, Letters and Text.
Born August 27, 1939 in Perryville, Missouri, Jeanne grew up in a small town with few planned activities affording her time to read, think and draw; drawing became an escape to a world of opportunities. She graduated from Washington University in the School of Fine Arts and worked in the fashion industry, at the Artemis Company, before retiring to raise a family. Warm, compassionate and with boundless energy, she was a hands-on mom and grandmother who also loved her Labrador Retrievers. When her family was grown, she had the time to devote herself to her art. She considered her studio the place to become herself and express herself through her work (www.jeannesturim.com).
Jeanne received a degree from the University of RI. She also studied Illustration in the Continuing Education program at Rhode Island School of Design where she became an instructor and taught Workshops in Pastel from 2007-13.
A community activist and early supporter and catalyst for the founding of Water Fire Providence, she was president of the Women's Center of RI and active in several organizations.
Besides her husband she leaves her three sons and their families, Douglas and Kris of Framingham, MA, Robert and Judy of Wenham, MA, Richard and Polly of Charlotte, VT and her grandchildren, Nicholas, Jennifer, Jake, Lilly, Abby, Elias and Sam. She is also survived by her sisters Betty Kassel of Broomfield, CO, Barbara Barnes of Diluth, GA, Kathy Weinrich of Noblesville, IN, and her brother Charles Boehme of Salt Lake, UT.
Contributions in Jeanne's memory may be made to the Rhode Island Philharmonic. A memorial service will be held in the spring.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Providence Journal from Jan. 16 to Jan. 17, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeanne Sturim

7 Entries

Jeanne Sturim stands in the center of the top photo from the 1990 Bike-a-thon she organized for the Women's Center of RI.

Anne Grant and Phil West

January 28, 2018

We have been heartbroken by Jeanne's death and keep thinking of the unimaginable loss for Howard, their family, and many friends. Jeanne brought such wisdom and dedication to her work for the Women's Center of RI, helping mothers and children escape domestic violence. She served in numerous capacities, including president. (In the years after she and I both left the Women's Center, it merged with CrossroadsRI.)

I was grateful that she recognized me (after decades) at WaterFire's FireBall. As warm and friendly as ever, she was once again doing what she did so well for us at the Women's Center -- fundraising and building a strong community.

After reading of Jeanne's death, we happened to see Jenna Coleman on HBO's "Queen Victoria" and felt struck by her beautiful resemblance to Jeanne. We are so grateful to have known her and been touched by her generosity and kindness.

Lorraine Rosenberg

January 22, 2018

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Janice Unger

January 17, 2018

Jeanne was my neighbor girl...we played together a lot..great memories. I am so glad I have one of her paintings. One of her paintings hangs proudly in the museum in Altenburg where we went to school at.

Nancy & Greg Phillips

January 17, 2018

We didn't really know Jeanne but met her once a couple of years ago at the Providence Art Club. There were a number of exhibits showing "little pictures". Hers was on the second floor in a room of her own. Her diminutive works of art were gorgeous. We ended up talking to Jeanne for about an half an hour about her many interests and talents.She was such a vivacious and lovely lady. As we write this, we are looking at two of her paintings that we bought. One is a lovely landscape of a little red barn in the distance and the other is three persimmons on a white doilie that looks so real you can almost smell them.What a great loss to her family, friends and the art world.

Therese Gladstone

January 16, 2018

Incredibly tragic news last week when I heard from Howard that my very healthy and outgoing best friend had suddenly succumbed to the Flu .
Jeanne was my American sister as well as your wife and mother. We had a thirty six year friendship which started with our running together at the Y in Barrington, sharing everything , then continuing with phones calls and visits after my move to California.
We were together for a few days on her visit to California last September. I cherish the time we had together visiting the De Young museum and catching up on everything.
Our husbands, our children, their families and our Art were our usual topics. When Howard retired and took over in the kitchen, Jeanne was able to devote herself completely to her art. Her work is absolutely exquisite. She truly enjoyed her time at the Art Club.
Years back, Jeanne was knitting on high tech machines in the barn. I still have a collection of the sweaters I purchased then, and only wear on special occasions. She was so creative and precise in everything she did.
Richard, you are absolutely right on your announcement on facebook stating that your mother will always be your beacon of light, your northern star, and be assured that she will keep on living through you and your children.
Therese.
My husband Michael and I are with you in this time of immense sorrow.

Joan Milich

January 16, 2018

Jeanne and I spent many years running, walking together and shared a passion for needlework! So very sorry to hear about her passing away!

Pauline Fadler

January 15, 2018

so sorry to hear about Jeanne's passing. We were neighbors as children, her grandparents lived across the street from us . We spent a lot of time playing together. We must remember though that Jeanne is now safe in the arms of Jesus, a place where we all long to be. Mary Ann ,Pauline and Vivian (Doering). Our thoughts are with you all .

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