Jean Sherman Mostrom

1918 – 2013

Jean Sherman Mostrom passed away peacefully at the age of 95 surrounded by family on October 19, 2013. She was a vibrant force in her family and community and will be greatly missed. Jean was born in Guildford, Western Australia, on March 23, 1918, daughter of Henry Thompson, Professor of English at the University of Western Australia, and Bertha (Tuckey) Thompson, a nurse.

After completing high school at Methodist Ladies College in Perth, Jean earned a Bachelors degree in Languages at the University of Western Australia. She excelled in academics and athletics and earned prestigious Commonwealth Lifesaving Awards and a Commonwealth Scholarship to University. She attended the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney where she received her Physical Education diploma in community based fitness programs. By age 24, Jean was appointed Director of National Fitness for the Commonwealth of Australia. In 1942, as World War II escalated in the Pacific arena, Jean joined the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). She was selected as the WRANS Executive Officer for Sydney and New South Wales, and served on the British Admiral’s staff. Later, desiring a position closer to the sea and the ships she loved, Jean transferred to Brisbane, Queensland and served as Confidential Books Officer, delivering critical cyphers and codes to ships headed into battle. During this post, she met her handsome “Matey”, Lloyd Mostrom, who was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. They married on September 1, 1945 at the end of WWII and soon thereafter sailed to the U.S.

Jean and Lloyd lived in Charleston, SC from 1945-1951 where Jean was active in theater, Girl Scouts, and was the first female faculty member at the College of Charleston, teaching in the Department of Health and Physical Education. Following Lloyd’s transfer to the Bureau of Ships (now Naval Sea Systems Command) in Arlington, VA, Jean completed her Master’s degree in Education from New York University, and completed coursework toward her PhD in History and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While in the Washington, DC, area, Jean was an active member of the community serving in leadership positions in Parent Teacher Associations at the national, regional, state, and local levels, the Dominion Hills Civic Association, the Arlington County Civic Federation, the Girl Scouts of America, and the American Red Cross. She was a lifelong member of the American Association of University Women. She earned Professional Registered Parliamentarian credentials and was an active member of the National Association of Parliamentarians and affiliates including the Virginia Alpha Unit of Registered Parliamentarians, the Grace Welborn Unit, and the DC Association of Parliamentarians, among other state and local units.

Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lloyd, on September 16, 2013. She is survived by her six children: Elizabeth (and her husband Herm), James (and his wife Betsy), Anne (and her husband Steve), Susan, Alison (and her husband Ric), and Ingrid (and her friend Robert); and five grandchildren: Eric, Robert, Janet, Ian, and Lauren.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held for both Jean and Lloyd on Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, 3440 S. Jefferson St., Falls Church, VA 22041. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on January 30, 2014.

Jean was a proud Australian who advocated for education, physical fitness, the environment, and community engagement in both Australia and the U.S. Contributions in her memory may be made to the National Association of Parliamentarians Education Fund (www.napef.org), or the “Pleasant Mountain Preservation Fund” at the Loon Echo Land Trust, 8 Depot St., #4, Bridgton, ME, 04009 (www.loonecholandtrust.org).