Jennifer Penelope Mann

1974 - 2025

Mann, Jennifer Penelope
BRUNSWICK - Jennifer Penelope Mann, 50, of Brunswick, N.Y., died of ovarian cancer at her home, surrounded by her family on January 26, 2025.
Jennifer was born in Greensboro, N.C., on July 22, 1974. The highlight of her childhood was meeting her lifelong best friend, Karen, at the age of nine. She earned a Med Tech degree in 1996 at Chapel Hill in North Carolina, before moving to Seattle to work on HIV research while studying towards a Classics degree at University of Washington in 2001. At the urging of a mentor, Jennifer applied, and was accepted to Princeton University. She started pursuing a Ph.D. in ancient Greek democracy that same year. While at Princeton, Jennifer met her dear friend, Julia, and the whole Zellentin family.
In 2002, Jenn met Jonathan at a university housing meeting. They were married in downtown Princeton in 2006, prior to finishing their graduate studies. Once Jonathan completed his degree, they moved to Buffalo, N.Y., quickly followed by Golden, Colo. There, Jonathan worked at the National Renewable Energy Lab, while Jennifer finished her thesis. Their daughter, Delphine, was born in 2010, while they lived in Golden, and Jennifer defended her thesis a year and a half later. In late 2011, the three of them moved to their current home in Brunswick, which is their dream home.
In 2013, their second daughter, Tallulah, was born in the kitchen of their home. While in Brunswick, and while her girls were attending preschool, she met her dear friend, Alix. During that time, Jennifer focused solely on her family, committing to homeschooling, her two girls and building up the orchards and gardens at their home. In 2018, thanks to a chance conversation with her dear friend, Christine, Jennifer became involved with the Brunswick Democratic Committee, the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee, and her political activism took off. In the intervening years, Jennifer has been involved in campaigns and causes supporting education, the environment, agriculture, and electoral reform. She was tireless in her campaigning for candidates that she believed in, from the town level all the way up to the state level. She was deeply committed to breaking down party lines, and identifying as an American rather than identifying as partisan. She annually spent many hours and visited many doors to create an independent party called Brunswick United. She ran for Town Council three times in an effort to increase her community's awareness about the importance of involvement in local government. Her efforts at the town level were also driven by a passionate desire to keep Brunswick rural. Outside of her political work, Jenn was inexhaustible in her desire to make connections within her community. She was involved in three homeschool co-ops, where she designed and led lessons in a wide variety of subjects. She was involved with the Brittonkill PTSA years, before her children were even students at the school. She organized a community resource website, "Brunswick Good News" videos, and thank-you campaigns for all of our Brunswick Fire Departments beginning during the COVID epidemic. She was an anchor of her dear friends, Annie and Zack's volunteer team at Laughing Earth Farm, drawing in helpers to process chickens. She led numerous workshops at the Brunswick Library to share her knowledge of houseplants. Her advocacy around repairing the traffic situation on Rte. 7, found her uniting community members from all walks of life.
Jennifer is survived by her dear husband, Jonathan; and her treasured daughters, Delphine and Tallulah; as well as her parents-in-law, Bruce and Lauren Mann of Mason, N.H.; and her siblings-in-law, Ben and Vanessa Mann, and children, Cecelia, Elliot, and Phoebe of Yarmouth, Maine; and Emily and Ryan Byrne, and children, Hunter and Myles of Westford, Mass. Jennifer is survived by her mother, Maggie Shook of Greensboro, N.C.
Jennifer was very grateful to her friends throughout her life and especially throughout her long illness, particularly, Alix Duggan and Julia, Holger, Leander, and Zoë Zellentin. Also Christine Relyea, Annie and Zack Metzger; Kirsten Fryer, Paula Fanning, Andrea Hurst, Ruth Richardson, Laura Jackson, Karen and Jimmy Furman. The number of people that Jennifer touched and made feel seen and valued is uncountable. The moments of compassion that Jennifer has offered has grown community where none existed before. In ways both small and large, Jennifer has left her corner of the world kinder and more beautiful.
To keep Jenn's community growing, we ask people to start seeds now to be planted in May in the Jennifer Mann Memorial Garden at the Brunswick Community Library. Put your love into this seedling and make sure it is healthy and strong for planting in the spring! Tuesday, February 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., please join us for a visiting time at the Brunswick Community Library to plant seeds in community. Potting soil, pots, and a selection of seeds will be available, but please bring your own seeds for your favorite perennial plant, if you wish. Be prepared to bring the pot home and tend the seedling until May. You may also start your own seedling at home. Saturday, May 31, at 10 a.m., there will be a public memorial service (location in Brunswick to be determined) followed by planting of our seedlings in the Jennifer Mann Memorial Garden at the Brunswick Community Library. Please wear bright colors for the day! Further details will follow. Interment will be private. In the spirit of growth and sharing, cut flowers and potted plants are inappropriate. We want to grow a garden together!
In lieu of bouquets and potted plants, donations can be made to the Brunswick Community Library, 4118 N.Y. Hwy. 2, Troy, N.Y. 12180 or brunswicklibrary.org and to the Brunswick Fire Stations (Mountainview, Eagle Mills, Center Brunswick, Brunswick #1, and Speigletown). We recommend using the brycefuneralhome.com website to share or send condolences.