Jane Elizabeth Gassner: Journalist, teacher, writer, artist, coach and mentor, died of lung cancer on February 10, in Torrance, CA. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on July 3rd, 1945 to loving parents Harold and Lee Gassner. She earned her BA from University of Pittsburgh in English literature. A life-long learner, she went on to earn several advanced degrees, including masters degrees in Psychology and English Literature, and taught while working towards a PhD at Lehigh University. She was a magazine feature writer, documentary producer, print editor, radio reporter, non-fiction book writer and founder of MidLifeBloggers.com. Her early writing addressed issues that were forbidden at the time: teen suicide, gender fluidity and women’s sexuality. She was pre-deceased by her former husbands Hamish Patrick and Dennis Westerling. She is survived by her sister Lynn (Ted); niece Barbara (Bernie), nephew Daniel (Chana) and niece Sara (Fumi); dear Gran-niblings Kayla and Livian; Noah, Bonji, Seiji, and Koko; loving caregiver and friend Sandria. She loved dogs, theater, fashion, jewelry making, democracy, healthy debate and good scotch. Donations can be made in her name to Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, https://www.marleysmutts.org
