Jan Scalpone

Jan Scalpone

Jan Scalpone, age 89, passed away June 25, 2021 at Theda Clark Hospital.

Jan Scalpone was born on October 2, 1931 in Englewood, NJ, the daughter of Anne and Sam Wides. She received a B.A. in English from Mt. Holyoke College, a B.S. in Education from UW-Oshkosh and completed coursework for a Ph.D. in American Literature at the University of Notre Dame. In 1957 she married Frank Scalpone and moved to Wisconsin where he took a job with Mercury Marine. They later divorced. Early in her career she worked in NYC for the Research Institute of America and the McCann-Erickson Advertising Agency. In Fond du Lac she was advertising manager for Berger's retail shops. Later, she spent 23 years as public information officer and transportation planner for the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Menasha, retiring in 1995. Much of her work focused on setting up the current system for elderly and disabled transportation in the Fox Valley.

Jan was an activist throughout her life. She was a 50+ year member of the League of Women Voters, serving on League boards in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and South Bend, IN. In the 1960's she co-founded the Fond du Lac Human Rights Council. In the 70s she helped found and served as president of the Winnebago chapter of the National Organization for Women. In the 80's she became interested in environmental issues, and from then to the present served in various positions on boards of the Citizens National Resources Association of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, the Winnebago Audubon Society, the Horicon Marsh Area Coalition, Sullivan's Woods and the Sheldon Nature Area. In 2007 she helped found the Winnebago Lakes Council.

Jan served the Oshkosh community as a member of the Oshkosh Citizens Advisory Committee for its entire 25 year existence. She also served five years on the Oshkosh Public Library Board, represented the city on the United Way's Consortium to distribute CDBG funds and recently served on the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board. In the Town of Winchester, Vilas County, where her cabin was located, she served on the Winchester Smart Growth Committee, the Winchester Town Lakes Committee and the Rainbow Lake Association Board.

She played tennis, golf, and croquet, liked to cross country ski and kayak; traveled near and far to hear favorite folk singers, and tried not to miss a Mozart concert. She was a state ranked tennis player and won several city tennis championships. She loved to spend time at her cabin in Mt. Morris with Louise Coumbe, her long-time friend.

Jan is survived by two children, son Stephen and daughter Mary; daughter-in-law Carol Scalpone; and granddaughters Gina and Cara; all of Portland, OR. She was preceded in death by a brother, David, and her parents. There will be a Celebration of Life on August 21, 2021. If you would like to attend, email mira.scalpone@gmail.com. Memorials should be sent to the Janet Scalpone Fund at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.