Jane Kentnor Dean of Edgartown died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones, on May 31, 2026. She was 91.
Born in Bridgeport, Conn., on Dec. 16, 1934, she grew up in Southport, Conn., and was the daughter of Charles and Jeanette Kentnor.
Jane was board president of the Fairfield Villages Wellesley Club, the Junior League of Bridgeport, and Pequot Library in Southport. She was the first director of development at Greens Farms Academy from 1974 to 1984, and went on to become a senior executive at the Advertising Council in New York City, and later a consultant in development at the U.N. International School in New York, and at other nonprofits.
She graduated from the Bolton School (now Greens Farms Academy [GFA]) in 1952, and Wellesley College with the class of ’56. She was proud to be the recipient of the Hoyt O. Perry award for her long service to the Pequot Library in Southport, and the GFA Distinguished Alumni Award. A separate award, the Jane Kentnor Dean ’52 Award, is presented annually to a GFA student recognized for outstanding service to the school.
In 2015, Jane’s work and passion for Wellesley was recognized when she was chosen to receive the Sed Ministrare Volunteer Award. The award recognized the joy Jane experienced for more than six decades serving both her class and her Wellesley clubs in leadership roles, including president, 50th reunion co-chair, and 60th reunion special gifts chair.
Jane’s large, intergenerational network of friends gave her many opportunities to pursue her favorite hobby — mentoring younger friends as they pursued nonprofit ventures and careers in service of others. She always attributed her long and healthy life to these friends, who enriched her and supported her in joy and in challenging times. Jane’s motto was “Connect, connect connect!” She never missed an opportunity to plug her latest favorite book, person, or project.
She and her husband George had a home in Edgartown for 35 years, where they summered with a house full of friends, family, and colleagues, with most days spent entertaining on their front porch. Their home was well known for the Deans’ Fourth of July parties, which grew every year.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Alden Dean, Princeton ’52 (2003); and her son, Jeffrey Pratt (2018). Jane’s beloved family members who survive her include her daughter, Susan Pratt (Fernando), of Edgartown, and Susan’s son, Harlin; brother, Charlie (Elen) Kentnor, of Delaware; stepchildren, George (Marianne) Dean Jr. and children Charlotte and Mac, of California, and Diane (John) Dean Stocks, and children, Matt, Drew, Nick, and Kate of Massachusetts.
A funeral in celebration of Jane’s life will be held at Trinity Church in Southport, Conn., on Saturday, June 27 at 11 am, and live-streamed on YouTube. A burial will take place at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown on Saturday, July 4, at 11 am.
Gifts in her memory may be sent to Trinity Church, at 651 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT 06890, which served as the foundation of her faith, or to Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT 06890, or to Wellesley College, online at bit.ly/WC_donate.