V28-3 The Lovely Jean
Recently we lost the grace and beauty of Jean Wright Haider, who had lived in Edgewater with her husband Don for some 40 plus years. She died peacefully at her home on July 10, 2017, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Born in Evanston, Ill. on December 4, 1941 to Edith Nixon Wright and Theron Woodward Wright of Winnetka, Jean graduated from the North Shore Country Day School in 1960 and Smith College in 1964, where she was the class president. She is survived by her husband, Donald Haider, Emeritus Professor at Northwestern University, her three children, Donald Blake Haider of New York City (Patrice Altongy), Elinor Redfield Haider of Philadelphia (Matthew D. Lee), and Paul Campbell Haider of Chicago (Jeanne Phillips), and her six grandchildren,
Jean’s fondest memories were of her ten summers spent at Camp Holiday in Hackensack, Minn., where lifetime friends nourished her until the end of her life. As a lifelong lover of literature and poetry, she began her career at Harcourt Brace Publishing in New York City and continued her passion as a member of multiple book clubs in Evanston and the Lakewood-Balmoral community. Jean’s gift of song, always present for the world to hear her beautifully harmonizing alto voice, was demonstrated in many places including her participation in the Edgewater Singers and hosting their concerts.
Jean was also involved in the civic life of her community and city; she served on the Women’s Board of the Lyric Opera and the Chicago Foundation on Education. Jean served as president of both the Guild of the Chicago History Museum and the Friday Club. When the Edgewater Historical Society planned an exhibit about politics in Edgewater Jean stepped forward with memorabilia from her husband’s campaign for Mayor. Most important to the hundreds of friends, family, neighbors and people who loved Jean, she invested herself fully in giving a love that was deep and authentic. Many would attest to Jean being truly his or her best friend throughout an entire lifespan. Farewell Jean.