Obituary of Jane Eckenroad

Jane Wood Eckenroad passed away early Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Bruns House hospice home in Alamo. She battled Melanoma for the past year; she was 56. Jane is survived by her husband Chris, son Eric of Clayton, CA and daughter Alison of Orlando, FL, her father, John Wood, of Columbus, Ohio, three sisters and five brothers. She leaves an extensive network of friends in the area as a result of her support of regional arts programs, her service for the disabled population and a long, deep involvement with her faith community. Jane was born to John and Mary Wood in February, 1950 , Park Forest, IL. Her family moved to Bellaire, Ohio, in 1961. She attended St. Johns High School and Bowling Green State University, Ohio. She met her husband, Chris while attending Bowling Green and they were married on Flag Day, June 14, 1971. She graduated from Bowling Green cum laude with specialization in speech therapy. Jane was a speech therapist for seven years in the Darien, IL school district. Jane and Chris are 26 year residents of Contra Costa County, following a move from Chicago in 1980. In 1987, Jane began a new career with Diablo Regional Arts Association, of Walnut Creek, where she focused on accounting responsibilities. Over the following 18 years she took on additional roles in managing programs, coordination of volunteer efforts, fund raising campaigns and celebration events. Helping develop the 'Arts Access' program, serving the disabled and underserved in Contra Costa County, was among her most cherished roles with DRAA. Her involvement with DRAA provided access for Jane and her family and friends to the rich performance and artistic community in the Bay Area. She took special interest in her disabled child, Eric's, access to the arts community for theater performance experiences and personal enrichment. She accepted a finance director position in 2005 at Through the Looking Glass, Berkeley, a non-profit service provider for the disabled population; a fitting organization to complete her professional career given her passion for this mission. Jane was active at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Walnut Creek, since 1982. Jane and her family were lifted up in spirit and physical needs by the friends at Saint Matthew throughout the battle with surgery and chemotherapy. Her interests found her attending book shows, weekly walking dates with friends (no one could walk and talk at her pace!), providing support for her deep network of friends, and organizing events for family and friends. Jane was an avid reader and her love of books was one that she shared with both her children. Jane Eckenroad's memorial service will be Thursday, June 15 at 1:30 p.m at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598. Gifts are requested to be directed to: Eric Matthew Eckenroad Trust, c/o Greater Bay Bank, 1255 Treat Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94597