Jane O'Kieffe

Jane Campbell Dick O’Kieffe passed away peacefully on August 26, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Her eight plus decades of life were busy, joyful and fulfilling. Jane was born in Norwich, CT. in 1937 and grew up in New Haven, Ct, later graduating from Boston’s Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1958, where she made lifelong friends.

Following graduation, Jane worked at Yale Medical School under Dr. Edward Hon who was carrying out fetal physiology research utilizing a fetal monitoring device he had developed. These pioneering techniques went on to become the standard of care across much of the world during labor and delivery. As an early authority, Jane went on to help establish fetal monitoring units at Chicago’s Lying-in Hospital, Walter Reed General Hospital and George Washington University Hospital. Countless newborns benefited from the altering of maternal care due to the early detection of fetal distress by this technology.

While working in New Haven, Jane was set up on a blind date with a Yale medical student, Donald O’Kieffe, who she married in 1965. When Donald was drafted and stationed at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington DC, the couple decided to make their home in the DC area. Jane concluded her 20-year career in fetal monitoring in 1985 and then began her next career chapter working at the Kingsbury Center, tutoring children with learning differences. She spent two decades as a master tutor in this gratifying educational endeavor.

In later years, Jane was an active member of Sulgrave Club in Washington D.C., spending much of her spare time working on various Club committees. She was also an active member of the Kenwood Garden Club. Despite her time-consuming pursuits, Jane remained an attentive and loving mother, always present for her three children. She was extensively involved in all family activities which included frequent worldwide travel, winter ski trips and summers spent on the Connecticut shore.

Over the decades, Jane was many things to many people – a loving wife, a doting Mother, a beloved and hands-on Grandmother, a valuable friend, a cherished neighbor, and a trusted confidant. She was a gracious hostess, with the doors of her home always open to friends and family.

Jane seemed to leave a positive impact on everyone she met and had the rare gift of making others feel special even if she had just met you. Jane was guided by a strong spiritual and moral compass in all aspects of her life. She will be remembered for many things, not least of which being her beautiful smile, her stunning blue eyes, and her witty and winning personality.

Jane is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Donald, and their three children: Donald O’Kieffe, III of Hong Kong (m. Winnie Chow) and their two children Charley and Olivia; John Bowman O’Kieffe of Arlington, VA (m. Rosemary O’Connell) and their two daughters, Amelia and Margaret; and Katherine Cusani-Visconti of Chevy Chase, MD, and her two sons, Alessandro and Luca. She is also survived by her brother, John Dick (m. Cheryl Daye) and seven adoring nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at a future date.