Jane Couffer Kaltenbach Townsend

1922 - 2017

Granby, MA - Jane (Couffer) Kaltenbach Townsend died November 12, 2017 after a very full and wonderful life at the age of 94.  She was born to Frances and Robert Couffer in Chicago, IL and was the proud older sister to a brother, Robert, who passed June 16, 2017.  Jane earned her undergraduate degree from Beloit College and her Ph.D. from the U. of Iowa.  She then became a research fellow at the Wenner-Grens Institute of the American Cancer Society in Stockholm from 1953-1956.  After a two-year stint as an assistant professor of zoology at Northwestern University, she came to Mount Holyoke College where she taught for over 24 years in the Department of Biological Sciences.  When she turned 70 she didn't retire but devoted full time to research until age 91 when she published her last paper, the last of approximately 60 papers and books.  Jane was a traveler to many countries and states attending conferences and presenting papers.  She also brought many of her undergraduate and graduate students to the Marine Biological Sciences Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA where she also had a summer home.  There she worked with Drs. Max Berger and Bill Kuhns.  While Jane belonged to several scientific organizations, her association with the local Pi Phi group was close to her heart and she was grateful for their visits over the last several years.  Jane had close and loyal friends, including Mitch Koziol, Ellen Faszewski, Jan O'Rourke, Virginia Ellis, Ernestine Stowell, and Linda Young as well as all her associates in the Biology Dept.  Jane is survived by three nieces all from the Midwest: Pamela, Julie and Sue, as well as her sister-in-law, Jeanne.  Her stepson, Tom, from New Hampshire was great about taking her out for dinner on special occasions and she enjoyed her visits with step-daughter, Beverly of Maryland.  Jane was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 2003.  A celebration of Jane's life will take place at Willits Hallowell, Mount Holyoke College, at a future date.  If you wish, donations may be made to the Jane Kaltenbach Townsend Student Research Fund, c/o Development Office, Mount Holyoke College, So. Hadley, MA, 01075.