Insider Information
By Anne Huffstetler (Photo by Tim Hanger)
Jane Tombes, W‘54, (pictured above, third from the left in the front row) was “a natural.” She was a natural lifelong learner and surely just the kind of person Mr. Osher had in mind when he formed his institute.
For Jane and her husband Averett (Ave), R‘54, joining Osher at UR in the winter of 2010 was a coming home of sorts. In 1954 Jane and Ave received their undergraduate degrees from the University of Richmond (Westhampton and Richmond Colleges respectively). Osher member Joy Winstead, W‘55, knew them both back then.
“Jane was such a leader on campus, starting as president of her freshman class and finishing as secretary of college government,” Joy said. “Everyone knew Jane.”
Jane continued her education earning, an M.A. from Clemson University and a Ph.D. from New Mexico State University. She taught English and directed plays at the high school and college level in Virginia and South Carolina. Her keen interest in the arts showed in her founding of the Clemson Children’s Theatre and active involvement in centers for the arts.
Jane and Ave returned to Richmond in retirement to be near their four children and 11 grandchildren. Jane had such a positive experience with the Osher Institute at George Mason University, that she made Osher at UR a top priority. Jane was co-leader of Readers’ Theatre, a class tailored to her doctoral work in speech and drama.
“Jane shared some of her experiences with Osher at Mason when she enrolled in the class,” said Linda Ventura who started the Readers’ Theatre class. “Eventually we decided to collaborate and revamped the class.
“Jane always smiled and gave such a wonderful, sweet presence in the classroom,” Linda continued. “She stressed diction and voice exercise, bringing tongue twisters for all of us to stumble and laugh over. We will all miss her.”
Jane was also an active, contributing member of the Insider planning team. She was eager to delve into topics, authored several articles for the newsletter, and was a positive, lively team member.
“Jane’s passing was so sudden that I still feel an absence of reality about our loss,” said her old college friend Joy Winstead. “She was a brilliant, creative and trusted friend.”