Jean B Pariso

JEAN B. PARISO, nee Jean Marie Brunner, passed away June 13, 2015. Jean was born December 26, 1925 in Reinholds, Pennsylvania (in the heart of Lancaster County). Her parents, Emory Brunner and Rachel Keith Brunner assured she had an active life within the local community as well as with Swamp Lutheran Church. She was heavily influenced by the Pennsylvania Dutch way of life with the German dialect creeping into annunciation now and then. In a self-penned ‘Autobiographical sketch’, date unknown she wrote: “Ever since I can remember an intense curiosity seemed to have been the primary motivating force in my life – a curiosity about the world I could see and feel and a curiosity about the life beyond my immediate environment. To the life beyond, my imagination was my passport; books, magazines, movies were my vessels.” Her imagination gave her wings. After “a happy and full high school education [Denver HS class of 1943, Valedictorian], the quest for more knowledge of the outside vastness led me to college [Cedar Crest College, Class of 1947, Salutatorian]”. Her academic life was rich and full in High School, starting her love of journalism as Editor of the school paper, as well as the usual activities: chorus; drama; sports; cheerleading. However, her life at Cedar Crest is where she started to fly - “many new avenues opened – new people, imaginative and sensitive and intelligent”. She earned her BA with a major in Sociology and Political Science. She was the Editor of the school paper; Inducted into both the National Journalism Fraternity and History Fraternity; Alpha Kappa Alpha; Pi Delta Epsilon; Press Club; Literary Society; Student Council; Concert Choir and Sextet; Drama [wrote, directed and produced shows], and Honor teams for Basketball, Volleyball and Softball. Her achievements at CCC, gained her entry into the Who’s Who Amoung Students in American Universities 1946-1947. After graduation, Jean moved to New York City to embark on her career. She began work with the Foster Home Department, initially as a Social Caseworker, eventually serving on the inter-agency committee to analyze and improve home finding techniques. When she resigned, she began to pursue the area of Public Relations: first with the Toy Guidance Council [PR], American Broadcasting Company [Associate Producer of daytime TV show] and finally to Cushman and Wakefield [PR for Commercial Real Estate]. Jean attended Columbia University, where she pursued a Masters in Social Sciences. Jean Marie and Jesse Francis Pariso [Minerva, Ohio, deceased 2006] were married in New York City August 11, 1956. They settled in Skillman New Jersey on a 14 acre farm in 1960. She changed gears and began working for Princeton based Meals on Wheels, was a member of Montgomery Township’s Board of Education, and was the Public Relations director for Princeton Ballet Company [know as American Repertory Ballet]. It was through her work at the Princeton Ballet she stayed close to her love of theatre and the arts. Politics were always in the picture, having worked for the Kennedy campaign, she remained a Democratic Party member all her life, and she was always working the local polling station for each and every election. Absolutely always close to hand was the NY Times; pouring over each section every day. Starting and completing the challenging Sunday NYT’s crossword every week (with dictionary and thesaurus close to hand). She was a voracious reader, a staunch supporter of fair pay and rights of women (however, do not use the ‘ist’ word). She found subtle differences and fine nuances to each and every sunset over the barn, spanning over 50 years of season changes. She gathered an extraordinary collection of friends along her journey in life, from childhood, college life, NYC, Skillman and Princeton and all the various activities in which she participated. She shaped, influenced and guided many in a quiet and subtle way. She was old school and always hand wrote her personal correspondence (always a pencil first draft), and she kept the notes, letters, and cards she received. One could forever find bits of paper with random thoughts around the house. One could also predict her drink was ordered with a lemon peel, not to be confused with a lemon wedge. Many a summer at Pine Brae Swim club, at the Princeton Ballet studios, on the rink with Princeton Skating Club, attending many parties, benefits and fundraisers, and later in life in the stands cheering her grandson on in swimming. She is survived by her daughter, Penelope Ann Pariso and her ‘most favourite’ grandson Jan-Michael Blakley, his wife Tiana and their yet to arrive ‘Little Boy Blakley’. She so enjoyed her time with Jan-Michael, as proven by the amusing anecdotes being unearthed in the mounds of notes on slips of paper. Forever the written word has power, and she left us with a lot of them! There will be a memorial gathering for reflection and celebration at the family farm in Skillman on July 29th at 5pm. Donations on behalf of Jean Brunner Pariso may be made to Cedar Crest College Alumnae Fund, Office of Institutional Advancement, 100 College Drive, Allentown, PA 18104

Jean B Pariso

December 26, 1925 - June 13, 2015