Dr. Marilyn Jane Evans Ramsay

01/12/1936 - 07/29/2025

Dr. Marilyn Jane Evans Ramsay, 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Washington, DC on the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Jane was an educator and college president, a lover of music and Classical Chinese writings, an avid swimmer, hiker, poet, and painter, and a generous supporter of the arts. Jane was born on January 12, 1936, in Newburgh, NY to Norman and Audrey Coutant and grew up with her younger brother and sisters in Huntington Bay, NY.

While Jane's early interests leaned towards journalism, Jane spent the majority of her career in higher education. She was the editor-in-chief of both her high school and college yearbooks, had early jobs working as a staff writer at Grumman Aircraft and as a feature writer at The Long-Islander, and she spent several summers at Time Incorporated in ad production, the Life picture bureau, and the Time news bureau. Jane was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Middlebury College where she was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She was awarded the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship to continue her graduate studies at Harvard University before ultimately receiving her Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature at Yale University as a Ford Foundation fellow. Jane went on to teach Classical Chinese literature at the University of Maryland, Connecticut College, and The George Washington University before becoming President of Mount Vernon College in 1980. Jane eventually retired after serving as Executive Director of the College Consortium for International Studies, developing a network of study abroad programs for universities around the world.

Jane was married to Dr. William C. Ramsay (physicist, writer, composer) with whom she traveled the world and enjoyed spending time at their lovely homes in Georgetown (DC) and in Santa Barbara, CA. There, they were very involved in both visual and musical arts, through their generous donations and the hosting of many musical performances for aspiring artists. Jane remained very invested in the arts after they returned to Washington together and following Bill's passing in 2016. She was an enthusiastic supporter of organizations such as The Kennedy Center, PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Camerata Pacifica, and The Phillips Collection.

Jane was extremely proud of her health and fitness into her senior years. She was dedicated to swimming and walking every day and practicing yoga. She also enjoyed gardening, writing in Chinese, composing haikus, and creating beautiful watercolors of wildflowers and waterfront landscapes. Jane always brought energy and enthusiasm to those around her. She had a special gift of being able to connect with people, bringing them together in social settings, making those around her feel valued and important, and creating friendships. But when asked to reflect on her greatest accomplishments, Jane would undoubtedly say she was most proud of being a mother and grandmother.

Jane is survived by two children from her first marriage to Dr. James L Evans, III, Duncan and Liz; her grandchildren, Genevieve, Graeme, and Vivienne; her daughter-in-law, Sarah, her two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.

A family gathering will be held near her childhood home in Huntington Bay in the coming months.