Jean White Vanderbilt

Jean Vanderbilt was born on March 4, 1921, the daughter of Marjorie Gallagher White and Ralph Pollock White. She grew up in Summit, New Jersey where she attended Brayton School, Summit Junior High School, and graduated from Kent Place School in l939. She was a graduate of Wellesley College, Class of l943, and remained always a loyal alumna, to the last several days of her life entertaining her caregivers by singing all verses of Wellesley songs and insisting they join in on the chorus, the louder the better. She married William R. Vanderbilt on July 21, 1945 when he returned from service in World War II, and settled in Summit, New Jersey, the third generation of her family with roots in Summit.

Jean Vanderbilt was a lifelong member of the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit and became it's oldest living member earlier this year. She was active in the Junior League and other civic organizations, and was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout den mother, a Sunday school teacher, president of the Brayton School PTA, and active in the New Jersey and Cape Cod Wellesley Clubs.

Jean Vanderbilt was a summer resident of Chatham on Cape Cod for over fifty years and she and her husband retired to the Cape in 1990. There, she was an active member of the First Congregational Church and other community organizations. She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years who died in September 2007, and is survived by her two children, Marjorie W. Vanderbilt of Alexandria, Virginia and Arthur T. Vanderbilt II of Summit, New Jersey. She was grateful to the end for the help and loving presence of her faithful and devoted caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Chatham Conservation Foundation, 104 Crowell Road, Chatham, Massachusetts 02633, or to the charity of your choice.