Obituary of Jean W Sidar

Jean Wilson Sidar Vice President and Secretary to Rutgers University Jean W. Sidar, 90, died on August 27, 2012 after a brief illness at her residence at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, NJ. A memorial service will be held at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church on Saturday Sept 8th at 11 am. Jean was a member of the BRPC for 44 years, and served as an elder, a deacon, and was a long time member of the choir. Dr. Sidar was a graduate of Baldwin High School, New Jersey College for Woman in 1943 (now Douglass College at Rutgers University)and earned her Masters Degree and PhD from Rutgers University. Jean taught at Douglass College and later at Waynesburg College before becoming the Vice President and Secretary to Rutgers University while Dr. Edward Bloustein was President. Dr. Sidar's book George Hammell Cook: A Life in Agriculture and Geology chronicles the life of the State Geologist of NJ and early VP of Rutgers College in the 19th century. Jean's love of books and pursuit of knowledge was a life time joy for her and made her grateful for, and supportive of, Douglass College and Rutgers University and the community of intellectual pursuit and caring they provided. Jean was surrounded by the warmth of friends in her church, her book group, and her community at Fellowship Village, where Jean served on the Board of Trustees. Jean's spirit of openness and caring moved her to serve meals to homeless people at Homeless Solutions, participate in the wedding of her daughter and partner, tutor at the Elizabeth Port Center and serve on numerous committees. Jean is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth (Betsey) S. Hall and her partner, Pamela M. Palumbo, her son, Thomas Wilson Sidar and his wife Ellen, her grand children and their spouses: Rebecca R. Stanford and Benjamin, Margaret Elizabeth McCroskey and Sean, Sarah Shull Sidar and her partner Matthew Poblador, James Kirkwood Sidar and Matthew Woods Sidar. Her great grandchildren are William Thomas Stanford, Kathryn Elizabeth Stanford, Greyson Joseph McCroskey and Carter Alexander McCroskey, Paolo Esteban Aguero. Her husband, Alexander G. Sidar, Jr and son, Alexander G. Sidar, 3rd preceded her in death. Jean will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Association of Alumnae of Douglass College (NJ), Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, (NJ) Homeless Solutions, Inc (NJ) and Frenchman Bay Conservancy (Maine)