Jeanne Anne Zeh

Jeanne is survived by her husband of 40 years, David Wayne Zeh; her four children, Mark Buttle, Dean Buttle, Sacha Bedford (née Buttle) and Adrian Zeh; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and her sister, Valerie Ann Tonkin (née Purdie).

Born in Barnet, England just after World War II, Jeanne excelled at A-level languages and became fluent in French, Spanish and German. In 1982, Jeanne began a new life in Tucson, Arizona. To satisfy her voracious intellect, she completed her Biology BA degree in 1986. She then moved to Panama to work alongside her husband David at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The couple’s six years in tropical rainforests built the foundation for a productive and groundbreaking academic career, with Jeanne completing a PhD in Biology at Rice University in 1996 and achieving the rank of associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013. Brilliant, strong, confident, and fearless when it came to standing up to injustice, Jeanne was a mentor and role model for her many undergraduate and graduate students and was deeply loved by her family and friends. Her scientific and educational impacts will long endure.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 14,2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL. Eulogies from 12:30 - 1:30 PM EST

Webinar link: https://chronicdisease.zoom.us/j/89784088591?pwd=FoB8OgNaWaAt2ECqX3ghPfp9v40Fxl.1

Passcode:Jeanne

Following the visitation, Jeanne will be buried at Riverside Memorial Park, 19351 SE County Line Road, Tequesta, FL 33469. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of her life after the burial at 15828 133rd Terrace North, Jupiter, Florida, 33478 from 3:30 to 6:00pm.

David Zeh will be establishing an academic scholarship in Jeanne’s name at the University of Nevada, Reno. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-the-jaz-memorial-scholarship