Obituary of Jeanne Nancy Bohlen Oppel

Jeanne Nancy Bohlen Oppel, a longtime resident of Chatham, NJ and Bass River, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and friends on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Morristown Memorial Hospital. She was 77.

She is survived by her brother, Richard Erwin Oppel and wife Patricia Ann Blakeley, her nieces and nephew: Christine Gail, Jeanne Nancy II, Caroline Hamilton, Bailey Fitzgerald, and John Franklin, and her closest friends: Annette Christine Owens and Barbara Ann Rzaski. She was predeceased by her brothers: Frank Anthony Oppel III and Herbert Franklin Oppel, Jr.; and her parents: Herbert Franklin Oppel and Marie Luise Violet Bohlen.

Jeanne was born in Newark, NJ on December 4, 1945. She grew up on Underwood Street and attended Vailsburg High School. She graduated in 1963.

Jeanne attended Montclair State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics (minor in physics) in 1967. She was president of her sorority, Sigma Delta Phi. Jeanne continued her education and attended George Washington University and New York University, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Personnel Administration in Higher Education in 1969.

Jeanne was passionate about education and dedicated to helping students. She started as a mathematics teacher at Central High and then moved into her role as guidance counselor (1969-1974). Jeanne then branched out to Science High School as a guidance counselor (1974-1982). She advanced as a vice principal at Weequahic High School (1982-1987) and at Central High School (1987-1990). Jeanne advanced again as Supervisor of Guidance, Special Education, and Foreign Languages at New Providence High School (1989-1990) and continued as Supervisor of Alternative Education in the Jersey City School District (1990 -1992). She was then appointed principal at Henry Snyder High School (1992-1998). Jeanne reached the height of her career as a supervisor at Newark Public Schools (1998-2000) and finished her career as an assistant principal at Bloomfield High School (2000-2011).

Jeanne frequently traveled to Cape Cod throughout her childhood until the time she passed. Bass River became her second home where she spent a majority of her time. She loved the ocean and enjoyed sailing, swimming, kayaking, and walking along the shore. Jeanne was an avid reader of The New York Times, Washington Post, and Atlantic Monthly. She thoroughly enjoyed engaging in The New York Times Crossword Puzzles. She was active in politics. She loved going to Broadway shows. She was a huge New York Giants and New York Yankees fan. Most of all, she loved spending time with friends and family, whether it was catching a game at Yankee stadium, golfing, sailing, dining out with a cocktail or two, taking a cruise to a faraway place or just coming together to catch up on each other’s lives.

Jeanne was fiercely loyal to her friends and family. She was a force when she needed to be, but she was always kind. She would be there whenever she was called. Jeanne was a mentor, a leader. She loved children and loved teaching, which was evident throughout her career.

A memorial visitation will be held for Jeanne on Saturday, May 20th, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM with a 3:00 PM memorial service during the visting hours at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jeanne’s memory to any charity of your choice.