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Janne Piper May 13, 2010 |
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| Janne Piper, a specialist in early childhood special education, died at age 53 on May 13th at her home in Hanover, New Hampshire. She lived her last months bravely and fully despite advancing ovarian cancer. Mrs. Piper devoted her career to working with young children with special needs. Upon earning a Master's Degree in Special Education from Wheelock College, she became a special needs teacher in the Pittsfield, MA Public School system. Between 1982 and 1991 she also served as a preschool consultant and programs supervisor. Throughout her nine years in the Pittsfield school system, Mrs. Piper earned awards for outstanding achievement with parents, children and the community. She became the Special Education Coordinator at the Bernice A. Ray School in Hanover, NH in 2003 and served in that capacity until very recently. Mrs. Piper took a leave of absence from teaching at the Ray School when her illness was first diagnosed in 2008. Despite her condition, she eagerly returned to the Ray School in the fall of 2009, where she loved working with students and their families, in addition to enjoying the camaraderie of her colleagues. Mrs. Piper was born to Saul and Sylvia Ritzenberg on September 28, 1956 in Washington, DC. She graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. where she played for the tennis and field hockey teams. Her passion for sports continued at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology in 1978. She competed on the tennis team there as captain and as #1 singles player. She married Winthrop Piper on October 24th, 1987 in Lenox, Massachusetts. The family moved to Hanover, New Hampshire in 1997 with their sons, Winthrop and Duncan. In Hanover, Mrs. Piper was active in community affairs, serving as President of The Bernice A. Ray School Parent Teacher Organization and on the Board of the Upper Valley Haven, a non-profit organization providing emergency shelter, food, clothing and educational programming to families with children. Mrs. Piper will be remembered by all who knew her for her spirited good nature, sense of humor, devotion to her family and students, and loyalty to her friends. She was an energetic contributor to all that she touched. Survivors include her husband of 22 years, Winthrop Piper, and their two sons, Winthrop and Duncan, all of Hanover, NH; her sister Cathy McCulloch and husband Scot, of Chevy Chase, MD; her brother James Ritzenberg and wife Tricia, of Bethesda, MD; eight nephews and three nieces. There will be a funeral service at The Rollins Chapel at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, on Sunday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow at The Hanover Inn in Hanover from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Avenue, White River Junction, Vermont 05001, or to The Heron Society, in support of women's athletics at Hobart William Smith College, located at 615 South Main Street, Geneva, New York 14456. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.
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