Obituary of Jane S. Greenleaf

Jane Stebbins Greenleaf, 81 Jane Stebbins Greenleaf of Mill Neck NY passed away on Nov 26, 2017, after a courageous battle with heart disease. She was born in New York on Sept. 28, 1936, to Mary Emma Flood Stebbins, a sculptor, and descendant of the James C. Flood family of San Francisco, and to Theodore E. Stebbins, a Wall Street banker and grandson of General Theodore G. Ellis, commander of the Connecticut 14th Volunteers during the Civil War. Jane was a graduate of The Chapin School in New York and of Briarcliff Junior College. She is survived by her three children, Victoria Greenleaf Kempner of NY, James Greenleaf of Hood River, OR., and Jennifer Greenleaf of Middleburg, VA., by three grandchildren, Lauren and Madaket Greenleaf and Theodore Greenleaf Kempner, by her two brothers James F. Stebbins and Theodore E. Stebbins Jr., and by her companion Bruce Balding. She was preceded in death by her first husband John Manning Greenleaf and her second Richard M. Sykes. Jane grew up in New York City and in Muttontown, Long Island, where she spent most of her life. In addition to being a devoted mother her passions were horses, dogs, and flowers. She rode with the Meadowbrook Hunt Club and was active in the US Pony Club, a passion she passed on to both her daughters and granddaughters. She always had a faithful canine companion by her side. Her love for flowers brought her to the North Shore Garden Club at an early age. She was a lifetime member and held tenure as President, created many award winning arrangements and was a respected judge. She had a deep connection with the natural world. As former president of the Stebbins Fund, Inc. her generosity of time, spirit, and resources found her advocating for many charities including Save the Children, Old Westbury Gardens, The Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center, and the Caumsett Foundation. Jane proudly served the Village of Mill Neck from 1998-2015 as a Planning Board member, Village Trustee, and Commissioner of Environmental Services. Jane Stebbins Greenleaf was a loving mother, supportive sister, and friend to all she met. Her presence will be missed by those she touched and her lasting legacy will be a shining achievement to a life well lived. A burial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. on Saturday Dec 2, 2017 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary, Mill Neck, NY.