Jeanne Henry (Kammer) Neff

Jeanne Henry (Kammer) Neff, a resident of Willow Street, PA, died on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the age of 82. Born October 5, 1942, in Fairmont, WV, she was a daughter of Rebecca Jacqueline Ridgely and Percy Byron Henry. She was a graduate of Wheeling University and earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Rice University and Carnegie-Mellon University respectively. She was awarded one of the first Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowships in Women’s Studies for her exploration of the uses of silence in the writings of American women poets, work which has been foundational for other scholars of women’s art and literature. She taught at Carlow University (PA), then joined the faculty at Wheeling, eventually becoming academic vice-president. In 1986, she moved to Susquehanna University (PA) as vice president for academic affairs and in 1995 was appointed president of Russell Sage College with campuses in Troy and Albany, NY. Following her retirement in 2008, she and her husband Ed moved to their long-time home at Deep Creek Lake, MD, where she served Garrett College during 2009-10 as interim president and, subsequently, as chair of its Foundation Board. In 2010, she received the Garrett College Board of Trustees Award for Outstanding Community Contribution, later renamed in her honor the Jeanne H. Neff Award. A scholarship fund to benefit returning women students was also established in her name. An active civic volunteer, during her time in Wheeling Jeanne was a board member of the Wheeling Country Day School, the West Virginia Humanities Foundation and the Wheeling chapter of the American Red Cross and served on the Community Council of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. While at Susquehanna University, she was a director of the First National Bank in Sunbury, PA. In the Capital Region of New York, she was a member of the City of Troy Waterfront Commission and co-chair of the Historic Troy 2020 planning group. She was honored by the New York Preservation League for her work in restoring historic buildings on Sage’s Troy campus. She was a founder and chair of the University Heights Association, a partnership with schools of medicine, law and pharmacy adjacent to Sage’s Albany campus. She served on boards of the Capital Bank and Trust Co., Capital Region Center for Economic Growth, Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College and Albany Academy, as well as the New York Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. She helped to establish the Capital Region Forum for Executive Women (FEW) and was co-host of 51%: The Program About Women on WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Nationally, she was a founder of The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), a consortium of independent comprehensive colleges; a member of the board of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and chair of the board of the Council for Independent Colleges (CIC). The Neffs moved to Willow Valley Communities, Lancaster, PA in 2015. In Lancaster, Jeanne joined Women United, a philanthropic group affiliated with the Lancaster County United Way and served on the Finance and Capital Allocations Committee of the Board of Trustees of Lancaster General Health/Penn Medicine. At Willow Valley, she sang in the Cultural Center Chorale. She was a member of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church. Jeanne Neff was a creative problem-solver with an entrepreneurial spirit, known for collaborative enterprises that benefited the institutions she served and the communities in which she lived. She was a voracious reader as well as a poet, pianist, singer and artist. She loved fine food, good wine and lively conversation (preferably together) as well as bridge, movies, theater and travel. A lifelong Democrat and feminist, she supported progressive causes including abolition of the death penalty, universal health insurance and broad access to higher education. Jeanne was a mentor for many, a loyal friend to many others, and a loving presence within her family. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Edward Williams Stephens Neff II; son, Brian Kammer (Meltem Alemdar) of Decatur, GA; stepdaughter, Carrie Mitchell (William) of Belle Mead, NJ and children Rachel and Wes; stepson Edward W.S. Neff III (Tina) of Gulf Breeze, FL and son, Will; stepbrother, Thomas Llewellyn (Sally) of Las Vegas, NV, their children Amy Reams (Paul) and Joseph Llewellyn (Jenna) and sister-in-law, Rachel Neville of Batavia, IL; grandchildren; nephew Scott (Sandi) Holly of Milford, DE and his daughter, Maggie Rose Holly; and nephew, Matt Holly (Steven Rowe) of Dallas, TX. She was predeceased by her sister, Rebecca Sue Henry Holly Meyer (Charles), and her stepbrother, David Llewellyn (Linda). A celebration of Jeanne’s life will occur Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 12 Noon beginning with a luncheon visitation and proceeding with a 1:00 pm memorial service. The celebration will be at Willow Valley in the Spring Run Auditorium on the fifth floor of the J building. When entering the main gate of Willow Valley (100 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA), follow the “Celebration of Life” signs. The service will be live-streamed for remote viewing at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@theepiscopalchurchingarret7340 In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the Jeanne H. Neff Scholarship Fund, c/o Garrett College Foundation, 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541, or to the Edward W.S. and Jeanne H. Neff Endowment Fund supporting operations of the Memory Center of Willow Valley. Gifts to the Fund should be made payable to Willow Valley Communities Charitable Foundation, 100 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA 17584. Gifts may also be made online via foundation.willowvalleycommunities.org (no www. prefix). Please note “Neff Endowment Fund” in the comment section of your donation.