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BORN
1941
DIED
2023
Janet Dinsmore Obituary
JANET LEE DINSMORE
Janet Lee Dinsmore died of cancer July 27, 2023 in her home at the Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, Maryland. She was 81. Born in Milwaukee on October 26, 1941, Janet grew up overseas and in the DC and Chicago suburbs. As an adult, she put down deep roots in the District's Chevy Chase neighborhood â€" raising two children and making lifelong friendships. Janet was a respected writer-editor who focused much of her long career on policy related to juvenile justice, child abuse and other family and children's issues. In retirement, she became a prolific poet and visual artist. She is survived by husband Franklin Taylor Clark, sister Sally Dinsmore, son Scott Alwin, daughter Sarah Shoenfeld, three grandchildren and many other loving family members. A Memorial Meeting will be held September 17 at 1 p.m. at the Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Decatur Place NW. All are welcome.
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Memories and Condolences
for Janet Dinsmore
Gregory Knight
February 14, 2025
Janet helped me transition smoothly through Margaret´s passing. May she be remembered well.
Gregory Knight
December 18, 2024
I deeply feel bad that I didn´t attend Janet´s memorial service as I just lost my youngest sister two weeks prior. May her immediate and extended families know that Janet lives on in my heart and will be remembered well.
Randy Burton
October 23, 2024
Janet Dinsmore was one of my original heroes in the field of child advocacy / child protection. She published one of my first writings in 1989 in her magazine, Justice for Children (vol.2, no.3). She was so supportive of my work as a prosecutor and, subsequently, when I started a non-profit to provide legal advocacy for children (and protective parents) who had been failed by the System designed to protect them. At the very beginning, I asked Janet if she would allow me to use the name "Justice for Children" for our organization. She said "yes"! That name is the essence of what we seek for every child who has no advocate for their rights and no other protector. 38 years later, we are still going strong (see "www.justiceforchildren.org"). I am so grateful to Janet and so heartbroken to discover that she has passed on. I was looking to reach out to her when I discovered her obituary. I would love to connect with a member of her family via email: "[email protected]". Please accept my condolences and my deepest gratitude for Janet's guidance. Randy Burton
Gregory Knight
August 26, 2024
One year after Janet passed away I am keenly aware of her influence on my life. We were fellow poets and lovers of nature, dare I say lovers of life. May her love shine across the universe.
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Meg Satterthwaite
September 17, 2023
So much love to Janet´s family and many, many (F)friends. I am so grateful for Janet´s incredible presence in my mom´s life. She was a persistent, fiercely caring, and gorgeously present human. The Light shined brightly on and within her. Much love.
Jim Hristakos
September 17, 2023
Janet was a dear friend and neighbor for many years. We lived on Jocelyn St in NW DC which became known as Jocelonia! Queen Janetta was our leader and I was her Prince. We shared many wonderful meals and fun times between our two homes. Janet was one off the most wonderful human I´ve known. Finally, knowing my propensity for over decorating at Christmas, she urged me to switch to LED lights as a small way to save our planet. And that´s why she will always be my Queen. Long live Jocelonia my friend! Love, Jim
Sally Zakariya
September 3, 2023
A fine poet, Janet inspired and encouraged me to join a poetry group and take classes. I don´t think I would have continued to write poetry myself if I hadn´t had the pleasure and good fortune to know her. My condolences to Janet´s family.
Laura Ventura
September 3, 2023
Janet and FT were my neighbors at our beloved Tolchester, Maryland bay community. From the moment I moved there in 2004, she was welcoming and supportive. She absolutely loved her time at that house and creating funky, mixed media art in the "hobbit house". We shared many glorious sunsets on the bay, "suppers", dance nights and garden plants. She will FOREVER be in my heart and soul and I am so grateful that our lives connected on this earth. Much love to FT and her family, Laura
Gregory Knight
September 1, 2023
I remember right after my wife Margaret died, Janet and I went to see "Ladies in Lavender" with Dame Judy Dench. It got me out of myself and helped me balance my grief with moving on. Janet and her husband F.T. were good friends. She´ll definitely be missed.
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