Dear Green Mountain Club Friends,
As an educator, mentor, leader, or outdoorswoman, Jean Haigh inspired others and brought people together. It is with deep sorrow that I share the news that Jean died suddenly on Saturday, November 2nd, while doing what she loved most, hiking with friends in the Northeast Kingdom.
The Green Mountain Club and Vermont hiking community have lost a truly special person.
Jean was president of the Green Mountain Club from 2012 to 2015 and an active board member for over a decade. She helped create the club’s Northeast Kingdom Section and was the section’s president for five years. Jean also served on and chaired several GMC committees. Her energy seemed limitless. Her dedication to GMC was unwavering.
Jean’s passion centered around trails in the Northeast Kingdom; in 2001 she encouraged the club to take on management responsibility for hiking trails in that area. Recently, the Kingdom Heritage Trail System opened—a 20-year project driven from the beginning by Jean’s leadership and determination. She was thrilled to see it through to its completion and a stretch of one of the new trails was appropriately named in her honor as “Haigh’s Highway.”
Jean built and maintained an unparalleled network of friends within Vermont’s recreation community and was a mentor to a generation of trail stewards. Last month Jean was sincerely touched to receive the Theresa S. Brungardt Friend Award presented by the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association and the Outstanding Partnership Award presented by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
As a member of the Green Mountain Club, Jean’s light burned brightly for more than two decades while she built an enduring legacy as an inspirational leader—both on and off the trail—and as a tenacious trail advocate.
We will miss her spirited ways and extend heartfelt condolences to her family and all who loved her.
Please look for more about the life of this exceptional recreation trailblazer in the spring Long Trail News. We encourage you to share your stories of Jean in the comments below.
Mike DeBonis, GMC Executive Director
A Celebration of Jean’s life will be held in Waterbury Center on December 7th, from 12 pm until 2 pm at the Zenbarn with a gathering later at the Green Mountain Club Headquarters from 2 pm until 4 pm. Parking is limited so please carpool.
I was stunned to hear the news, I think we all thought Jean was invincible. I’ll miss her great joy in the outdoors and generosity of spirit, and think of her often as I follow in her boot prints.
Though she lived a long life by anyone’s measure, it is hard to fathom that she left us so suddenly and so soon. Jean was one of those people that I always thought would live forever, always full of vigor and spirit right up to the end. I am so very sad that I did not get to say goodbye to my dear friend and mentor, but perhaps that is the way it was supposed to be, with her slipping out before anyone could make a fuss over her. That she died quickly and suddenly while hiking, surrounded by her friends, is such a fitting end to a life well lived. She literally slipped into the stream, washed away into the forest where she will live on forever. Jean was truly one of a kind and will never be replaced, or duplicated. There is a huge hole in the World, and especially at GMC, with her gone. I like to think that she is off hiking somewhere with Dave Hardy, having a grand old time as always. We will see her again on the other side of the mountain.
Well said Richard….I too look forward to seeing her on the other side of the mountain.
She was sooooo tough …….
Nicely said. My heart will be heavy for a long time.
Ditto Richard – well said. I knew her through mentoring. A fine lady, she will be dearly missed; I too look forward to seeing her on the other side of the mountain.
Well said, Rich. Yes, we are also thinking of Dave Hardy.
Beautifully expressed, Rich!
Amen, Rich.
I am so very sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Jean. Not only was Jean a strong advocate for trails, she was also a tireless supporter of resurrecting neglected camps. I worked closely with her and Dave Hardy after they approached the Friends of Bolton with their campaign to restore Bolton Lodge and Bryant camp. They both rolled up their sleeves and got to work with planning, grant writing and supervising the rehabilitation of these camps. I remember one beautiful VT day, Jean took Hope Crifo and I over to view the Wheeler Pond Camps. It was such a lovely day, I will always remember it. I learned a lot from Jean and so very glad I had the opportunity to work with her. I think she was blessed to die suddenly, doing something she loved. My condolences go out to her family, dear friends and co-workers in their time of grief.
Ann Gotham
Friends of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry.
All of us from the Northeast Kingdom Section were shocked and are grieving at news of Jean Haigh’s death. She was truly a founding mother of our section, and were it not for Jean, the Kingdom Heritage Trail System may not have become a reality. Whenever there was a delay or problem, Jean pushed forward to assure completion. Beyond her amazing dedication to the GMC for the past two decades, Jean had, until her dying day (she never truly retired) a remarkable career as an educator, training perhaps thousands of teachers, especially in the field of special education. There are few Vermont school systems no doubt without at least one teacher or administrator who benefited from from her wise tutelage. She was a horsewoman who admired and raised Morgan Horses, Vermont’s own beed, and was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her passing leaves a large void that is best filled by all GMCers dedicating themselves to continuing the club’s role in the promotion and facilitating of hiking and hiking trails in Vermont. Go in peace, Jean, You were treasured and will not be forgotten.
I have lost one of my few close friends and am really struggling to accept it. Jean wasn’t just a force, she was a tour de force. She was the heart and soul of the Green Mountain Club. Her list of accomplishments is ridiculous, but she was always there for the hard work, whether it be stacking wood at Wheeler Pond or calling GMC donors to thank them. She literally brought hiking to the Northeast Kingdom. But above all she was a good friend who will remain a big part of me for the rest of my life.
Jean has touched the lives of many. Her enjoyment of teaching others, leading teams of educators and passion for schools was as strong as her dedication to the Green Mountains of Vermont. She was one of those people who brought positive energy and enjoyment with her, and left a bit for others to keep when she left. You could not help but be inspired and motivated after talking with her about schools and potential for change. I will miss her as a friend, a colleague and a training partner. She definitely made an imprint on the lives of many, myself included.
Did Jean literally get swept downstream, as one post said?? Where was she hiking. We have seen her on several trails this summer, especially the new trail between Bluff Mountain and Norton in Island Pond. This is shocking and horrifying. I can’t imagine being among the folks hiking with her. My thoughts go out to those folks and to Jean’s family as well.
no that was a literary device. she died suddenly, while she was in the process of crossing a stream
Shocked and saddened to lose this wonderful lady! Those of us at Bread Loaf Section who were privileged to know Jean also know that she loved her trails; her passion and dedication were almost unmatched among her peers. So glad she finished the new trail system in NEK and was recognized on Volunteer Appreciation Day on Sept. 7th, which was the last time we saw her and her big smile. We appreciate your comments, Rich. She epitomized, “Do what you love and love what you do.” We extend heartfelt condolences to Jean’s family and all who loved her.
Jean to me, certainly represents the very, very best attributes of the Green Mountain Club. Although I didn’t know her well, I came to know and highly respect her for her stint as President of the Club. When I would see her, I was always greeted warmly and genuinely. Her inquisitive nature invariably asked where I had been hiking or travelling lately , not much about her. I loved her spirit, enthusiasm and dedication to the Club and am truly richer and wiser having had contact with her ! yes, to be sure, she and Dave will be sharing good times out on the Long Trail. Thanks so much, Jean
Many stories and many hikes with Jean. Some of my favorite memories are of hikes to Unknown Pond with Dave and Jean and dreaming of how to connect the Kingdom to the wider hiking public. And of course there were the many cords of wood we stacked at Wheeler Pond Camps together – can’t forget that. Another GMC fixture has left us but her mark on the Club and Vermont are well established – from the trails and camps in the Kingdom to the Club’s Visitor Center – and will be enjoyed by countless hikers to come. Thanks Jean for all the good work and the memories.
A group of us who are working on renovating and maintaining the Craftsbury Academy Woodlot were out with Jean and Luke O’Brien scouting the “Back 40” of the Woodlot for a possible wilderness trail. Jean and Luke graciously volunteered to help us think about locations for a new trail. This wonderful morning spent tramping around in the woods with Jean was only two days before she died. I am so thankful for this memory.
Jean lived life with passion and great heart. She is lucky to have passed while doing what she loved. I am especially grateful for Jean’s love for my brother Dave. She was so supportive and helpful during his illness. And she embraced his Connecticut family with love and kindness during his fight. He always talked about how wonderful she was and how she would help us during his illness. She is surely hiking the trails with Dave now. Peace Jean & Dave.