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Jean Legant, 89, died of pancreatic carcinoma on April 13, 2008. Jean was raised in Evanston, Illinois along with her sister, Ruth, and brother, George. She attended Wells College and graduated from Rockford College followed by a Master's degree in French from Northwestern University. During World War II, she spent eighteen months in London during the German aerial blitz working for the U.S. Office of Censorship translating captured German and French mail. She admired the English for their fortitude and she remained a dedicated Anglophile. After the war, she made several transatlantic trips and phone calls continuing contact with her English friends. Returning to Washington D.C., she worked for U.S. Army Intelligence. In 1945, she married a U.S. Navy physician, Omar Legant. She loved to dance and smoke cigars with Omar. The union has lasted to this date proudly resulting in four children. She and Omar valued the pursuit of education and passed that gift to their children: Patricia, Ph.D., M.D., her husband, Thomas, Ph.D. and daughter, Anna; Paul, M.D., wife, Kristin, and sons, Andrew, Bradley, and Wesley; Amy, Ed.D; Ellen, M.A. When the youngest reached school age, Jean entered a doctoral program at UNM, eventually earning a Ph.D. in 1968. She was a brilliant student, never getting less than an A in any course. Following graduation, Jean taught sixth grade at La Luz Elementary School in Albuquerque's North Valley. Subsequently, she worked for the New Mexico Department of Education, driving across New Mexico in her sporty MG to evaluate local schools. She served as an adjunct professor at UNM. Later she returned to work for the Albuquerque Public Schools devising tests of student knowledge and analyzing their scores for teachers. After retiring from APS, Jean returned to her first love, volunteering until age 80 in a third grade classroom at La Luz Elementary. She saw to it that every child learned to read, and her students affectionately called her, "Grandma Jean." From the age of four, Jean was a voracious reader. She never found a crossword puzzle she couldn't solve. She loved to weave, knit, and do counted cross stitch, creating countless tapestries and pillows for her children and grandchildren. Jean was a wonderful gardener, fisherwoman, and a gourmet cook known for the feasts she served to friends and family every holiday. Jean was forthright, outspoken, and prized integrity, qualities she passed on to her children. She had a very active life until four years ago when osteoarthritis of the lower spine caused marked weakness of the lower limbs and left her housebound. She requested no memorial services be held. She lives in our memories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends consider making donations to their favorite charities. The family extends its warmest thanks to the staff at The Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque for their extraordinary kindness and care. Sometime ago, she composed the following: I expect I'll die one day And when it comes they'll say She was tactless, blunt, and abrasive. But my friends all knew And said so too I really cared How the children fared. I saved my frown For the arrant clown Who let them down. So when I'm gone And my work is done I hope "Grandma Jean" Will always mean: Someone who loved children. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 www.frenchmortuary.com
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