Bertha Jackie Plecas

Jacqueline Topping Plecas, 59, affectionately known by everone as Jackie, was born in Pittsburgh, PA, January 15, 1953 and was an internationally traveled New York Native at heart. Jackie went from being the youngest of four siblings raised on a farm in Mars, Pennsylvania by amazingly loving parents, Mary Leavy and Robert C. Topping to going on a full scholarship to University of San Francisco. There she had some of the best times of her life and finished a year early, full honors studying Political Science, to marry and pursue teaching overseas in Negril, Jamaica. Upon returning to the United Stated, she had her first born, Joshua, and went from a career as Comptroller in a NYC based publishing company to the start of her career in oil and shipping. By the mid 1980's, Jackie had become the first woman in Marine Sales at Exxon Petroleum, had had her second child, Jennifer, and subsequently went on to establish two of her own petroleum based sales companies after a very successful run at Exxon. At Med Atlantic her more prominent firm, she and international partners fueled barges seamlessly all over the world with one of the safest ratings in the industry, during the Persian Gulf War. During this time she also loved being a member of the Maritime Association and hosting and sponsoring numerous Fleetweek events at venues like Manhattan's then Rainbow Room. After a retirement from the petroleum industry, she pursued teaching History overseas again in Costa Rica. She came back again to the States, to teach in Fort Lauderdale and to care for her mother and mother's sister, Bertha.

She struggled with her failing health due to the results of Addison's disease and multiple strokes, but as was her nature, perservered regardless of her health condition, to pursue her Master's Degree in Labor Studies at State University of New York where she was in the final year of her Master's degree program. She passed peacefully in Brooklyn, NY on February 15, 2012.

She leaves behind her daughter, Jennifer McDermott, her grandaughters, Ashleigh and Chloe, her son, Joshua Plecas, her sister Margaret Thomas and brother, Phillip Topping as well as nephews, neices, and many friends whom loved her deeply and whom she loved so much. May you be at rest now. We love you and miss you so much.