Jean Wallen Hannah September 7, 1928 - December 10, 2019

Condolences(6)

1. 

   Dan McConnell says

   January 10, 2020 at 9:46 pm

   I loved Jean like a second mother. She was so “Witty and Pretty and Bright.” from West Side Story; but she was mostly “Loverly” from My Fair Lady.
   She was so kind and loving and energetic and enthusiastic, which made her the great teacher she was.
   And a Great friend of the family. When we got together with Jean and John, there were always Great stories with Big Laughs and great political discussions and all varieties of thoughts on literature, current events and poetry…..John’s favorite line from a poem was “I wake to sleep and I take my waking slow.” but when he said it, it was with a wry twinkle in his eye…denoting to me that he was not totally serious.
   A big part of our life has now gone missing…
   a big part of my heart has gone with it. Love Dan

2. 

   Miki (Reeder) Baba says

   December 28, 2019 at 1:21 am

   I was in Frau Hannah’s German class all four years at Downey High. Although I had quite a few teachers at Downey whom I loved, she was definitely at the top. The advanced students established a close, personal relationship with her which extended beyond the classroom and beyond graduation. She was always warmly inviting to us at her lovely home in Ceres. She inspired me to go on to major in German in college, although my path changed and I ended up in elementary education. I eventually lost touch with the shining light that is/was Jean Hannah but I have never forgotten her. My condolences to her family. We have all lost one of the great ones.

3. 

   Curtis and Nancy Grant and sons Eric and Ryan says

   December 24, 2019 at 1:20 am

   Two generations of Grants profited from Jean’s excellent teaching. We want her family to know how much she was appreciated.

4. 

   Nancy Howard and family says

   December 23, 2019 at 6:21 am

   Our daughters were in Frau Hanna’s German class at Downey High School. My husband and I were also privileged to work with her as Volunteers for AFS Intercultural Programs.
   We appreciated her dedication to her teaching and her enjoyment in watching her students learn German and the exchange students learn English.

   My husband, Ed Howard, continues on the journey of those with Alzheimer’s and he Jean were in the same facility for about a year. I am happy to know that she is able to be at rest and free now.

   To her family: I hope you know that many thought highly of Jean and send you our good thoughts and love at this time.

5. 

   Linda Glenn says

   December 22, 2019 at 9:19 pm

   Frau Hanna, as her German students called her, was the stand out tops of my high school teachers. In the four years I studied in her German language class,she made a lasting impression on me through her kind and gentle ways. I especially recall being in her class when the announcement came that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Completely shattered, she went to the rear of the classroom, put her head down on the desk and cried. We found out that day that teachers are people, too. (DHS Class of 1965)

6. 

   RJ Moriconi says

   December 22, 2019 at 8:54 pm

   It was my pleasure and honor to be a colleague of Jean’s at Downey High School where I, too, taught English (Junior year–American Literature )as a member of the department she chaired so very, very well. Later on, during my professorship at CSU Stanislaus, we visited rather often and she convinced me to become a board member of Modesto Friends of the Library (never an easy person to hear the word “no”). I will always remember her enthusiasm for music, literature, thoughtful analysis, and laughter. She was a truly splendid woman!