Jean Boehlke Anaporte Easton

JEAN BOEHLKE ANAPORTE EASTON, a wonderfully unique poet, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend to many, died in Albany, NY, on August 17, 2025. She was born in Buffalo, NY, on July 19, 1942. Jean graduated from University of Michigan in 1964, earned Master's degrees from Brown and Cornell Universities in 1970 and 1983 and a Doctorate from SUNY Albany in 1986.
Dr. Anaporte was a lifelong educator, teaching poetry and writing in universities, schools, prisons, and mental health facilities. She empowered her students to think for themselves, question norms, and produce their best and most authentic work.
Jean's incisive and inventive mind gave her an exceptional sense of language which served her well as a poet, writer, and literary critic. In Indianapolis, she was selected as one of twelve winners of the 1991-1992 Poetry on the Buses competition. She wrote extensively on the poet Etheridge Knight, published in scholarly journals and poetry magazines, and had a writing fellowship at Yaddo in 1999.
She is survived by her daughter Delia Easton, son-in-law Charles Seagle, sister Susan Swartz, brother-in- law Nicholas Easton (Sally), sister-in-law Alice Geoffrey (Ted), grandchildren Xela, Juniper, Stevyn, and Siobhan Seagle, numerous and much-loved nieces and nephews, and many friends. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Otto and Jean Boehlke, her former husband, Stephen W. Easton, and her beloved poodles.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Heifer International, Doctors Without Borders, or Amnesty International.
A memorial service for friends and family is planned at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave. Delmar, NY, on Saturday, September 20th at 3 p.m. The family will receive visitors from 1 to 3 p.m. before the service.
To leave the family an online condolence please visit www.applebeefuneralhome.com.