Jane M. 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).