Jean F. Goetinck

Goetinck, Jean F.

Jean left us, quietly and peacefully, on the morning of April 7th. lovingly tended by his niece, Susan Ambrose, and the staff of Peppi's House. Born on July 5th. in Bruges/Brugge Belgium to Firmin Goetinck and Elise Caliouw, Jean entered the United States in 1952 accompanied by his younger brother, Paul. They studied at Pierce Junior College in Canoga Park California until the Korean War and the Army intervened. Jean spent the last years of that war in Korea and, on leave in Japan, developed a profound interest in Japanese culture and language. He studied Japanese for several years , becomihg quite proficient in that language. Returning to the U.S. Jean decided on a career in teaching and enrolled at UCLA in the French Department. He was preparing to leave in order to take up a position in the then Department of Romance Languages at the University of Arizona when he met Dr. Glenys Witchard, a new addition to the French Department, recently arrived from the University of Wales.They married in 1963 and began a partnership which lasted for 59 years. They both taught for a year at the University of Victoriar, British Columbia, but Jean could not forget Tucson and one year later saw him back at the University of Arizona. He loved to teach , enjoyed the interaction with his students and derived great satisfaction from counselling. In the 1970's Jean was drawn to the idea of being self sustaining and for several years he kept a small herd of goats, in addition to a very large horse and at least a dozen dogs, helped by a somewhat bemused Welsh mediaevalist. He retired in 1999 and busied himself with gardening and genealogy. He was particularly interested in WW1 and his father's career in that conflict. Jean always admired and respected the culture and traditions of his neighbours of Mexican heritage and, over the years, neighbours became friends and often family. He leaves behind his wife, Glenys, brother Paul and sister-in-law Monique of Wellfleet MA, niece Susan and her family of Dallas, Tx, nephew Michael and his family of

Norwich, VT, sister Lucette of Briges, Belgium, niece Katy, nephews Jean and Marco and their families in Belgium, his elderly dog Susie and chief cat Archibald. Bon voyage Jean and thanks for the memory. Many thanks go to the staff of Peppi's House for their kindness and care ad to Sensible Cremations and Funerals

for their guidance and support. Friends will gather to celebrate Jean's life at a date not yet decided.