Jane Moffett

Jane Miller Moffett, of Chatham, passed away on May 17, 2026, two months after
celebrating her 90th birthday with friends and family. She took great pride in
encouraging all to strive to do their best. She took great pleasure being with old friends
and making new friends.
Jane fell in love with art history and continually re-invented herself as a historian and
teacher over her 50+ year career. She graduated from Smith College in 1958 majoring
in Art History. Her first job was at MIT, followed by working at the deCordova Museum in
Lincoln, MA.
Her greatest past-time was skiing which led her to meet Read Moffett on the slopes of
Stowe, VT. She married Read on December 29, 1962, in Rochester, NY, where she
grew up. Jane and Read were together ever since and through many adventures and
travels. They traveled all over the world, including living in Saudi Arabia for two years.
They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary last December.
Jane’s first teaching job was at Denver Country Day School. Later, she charted her own
path, designing and then executing a unique art history enrichment program, that she
launched in one school in Hinsdale, Illinois.  Over the years, she produced nearly 200
programs each year across school districts throughout the Chicago suburbs and for
adult members of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Her innovative methods included side-by-side dual slide projection to encourage
students to think critically – to compare and contrast what they see.  Always a
performer, she would occasionally dress up as historical figures to engage her students.
She also pioneered “teaching from objects”, namely bringing precious historical artifacts
(clothing, furniture, tools) into the classroom and letting students touch and experience
them. They could try on clothes, sit in chairs, and use kitchen tools. For her Wild West
Show, she even demonstrated how to set and trigger an actual working beartrap.
Later, she earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University. In 2001, she and
Read moved to Chatham and she continued to visit classrooms.  She was a member of
the Historical Commission and the Community Preservation Committee and Chair of the
Cultural Council, as well as a tireless volunteer for the Chatham Marconi Maritime
Center.
Ever devoted as mother to her two sons, Jeff (who married Tami) and Stuart (who
married Michele), and as grandmother to Rhodes, Abby and Alex. She is also survived
by her younger brother Neal and his wife Lynne (also of Chatham) and their son
Brandon.

We will come together to celebrate her life at 3pm on Saturday, May 30, at the Unitarian
Universalist Meeting House, 816 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633. A reception will
follow at the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center, 831 Orleans Road, North Chatham, MA
02650.
We encourage you to share photos of Jane over the years for the slide show we are
creating to play at the service and reception. Please upload them here
(https://mercury.wetransfer.com).