Jeanne Malchon

MALCHON, Jeanne 86, of St. Petersburg, passed away Aug. 23, 2009. Jeanne and her husband Dick came to Florida from New Jersey in 1952. Shortly thereafter, she began a career as a civic activist that eventually led to her three-time election to the Florida Senate, where she served from 1982 to 1992. She was a leader in almost every endeavor she undertook: National President of the American Lung Association, Local and State President of the League of Women Voters and National Board Member. In 1975, she was appointed by then-Governor Reubin Askew to fill a vacancy on the Pinellas County Commission and thereafter won election, becoming the first woman Chair of the Board. She was always an advocate for health issues and a proponent of clean air. As a State Senator, she was instrumental in passing the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act -- the first such legislation in the United States -- that prohibited smoking in public buildings. During more than 40 years of community and public service, she earned innumerable honors and accolades and served on boards, panels, commissions and study groups too numerous to list. In addition to her civic and political accomplishments, she was a doting wife, loving mother, elegant hostess, amazing cook, accomplished seamstress and grower of stunning roses and camellias. Jeanne requested that no formal memorial service be held for her. Her son Richard hopes that the people she touched will gather to share stories of her battles and her accomplishments; recognize her efforts on behalf of civil rights, the environment, nursing professionals, children, and the disadvantaged; and remember her lasting contributions during a long and note-worthy civic career. For those wishing to remember her with memorial gifts, Jeanne's favored charities were St. Pete Free Clinic, League of Women Voters-St. Pete Area, and CASA. National Cremation Society