Jessine A. Monaghan

Jessine A Monaghan (May 5, 1953 – March 31, 2026) passed away peacefully surrounded by her partner Dr. Steve Hentges, her mother Jessine Sr. (at 100+ years), her brother Ken and his wife Meg, and her sister Karen and her partner Mark. She leaves behind four adored nieces and nephews and their children.

Born to Jessine M. Monaghan and Francis A. Monaghan, Jessine led a 50s/60s childhood in tree-lined Bellerose Village, New York. She went to public school at Floral-Park Bellerose School and Floral Park Memorial High School. Her introduction to music at an early age led to a life-long love and support of classical music, demonstrated through her sponsorship of Young Concert Artists and support for StringTime (a Northern Virginia educational program) and the National Symphony Orchestra.

In 1975, Jessine graduated from Wellesley College obtaining a BA with Honors in Art History and a second degree in History. After a brief hiatus, she enrolled at Washington and Lee University Law School (1979L)

Before retiring in 2017, she managed government relations in the Americas for SABIC, a global chemical and plastics company with employees in 40 countries. Prior to that, Jessine served in a variety of positions with the General Electric Company in the US, the Netherlands and Belgium, including as Environment, Health and Safety lawyer and as the leader of GEs Corporate Environmental Programs covering the firm’s 80 manufacturing plants in Europe. Prior to joining General Electric, she was in the private practice of law with Hunton & Williams (1981-1992). From 1998-2000, she was Director and European Compliance Officer for Sotheby’s in London, England; she developed and instituted a compliance program for Sotheby’s 25 locations in Europe, Israel, South Africa and Australia.

While at W&L, Jessine was member of the International Moot Court Team, the Women Law Students Association, Omicron Delta Kappa, and a Burks Scholar. In recent years, Jessine received an Honorary Order of the Coif and served W&L on the Consolidation Committee of the Strategic Plan, the Deans Search Committee, Class Agent, and on the DC Area Committee of the Rising Generation Capital Campaign and the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign.

She also served as President of W&L Law Council and on the Board of Trustees of Washington and Lee University from 2007-2016. She was honored to have her name added to the Honored Benefactors wall at W&L. Additional board service included Leadership Connect, Inc., National Trustee of the National Symphony Orchestra (past Chair), Young Concert Artists, and the George C. Marshall Foundation.

Burial is private. A celebration of life will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jessine A. Monaghan Fellowship in Experiential Education at Washington and Lee University Law School (contact Sarah Hughes (540) 462-7970), StringTIme (https://www.stringtimemusic.org/donate) or to the charity of your choice.