Obituary for Jeanne Alter (Phillips)
Jeanne Alter passed away peacefully on May 16, 2020 after a recent decline in health. She was 92 years old, and spent many of those years in Delray Beach, FL, Reading and Wakefield, MA, and Caldwell, NJ. Eternal rest will be alongside her late husband Robert at the Temple Emmanuel Cemetery in Wakefield, MA.
Jeanne was born on April 19, 1928 to Louis and Elizabeth Phillips. Her childhood was spent in Everett, MA with her older brother Martin, who preceded Jeanne in death. Jeanne attended Everett Public Schools and the Stanley Brown Dance Studio in Boston. Jeanne danced and roller-skated professionally in night clubs and stage shows, and met her future husband Robert at a resort hotel in Bethel, New Hampshire. One of the highlights of her dance career was performing with the legendary Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. After retiring from her professional career, she still danced, now with Bob as her partner; they became very active with square dance groups, making new friends all over the country.
Jeanne and Bob married in August of 1946, and began their family in Clifton, New Jersey. Jeanne was a devoted wife and mother, and Jewish family life was a priority for her, spending time and celebrating holidays with her large extended family, and later taking care of her aging mother Elizabeth (Bet).
Jeanne remained passionate about dance, teaching children from her home and helping local PTA and theater groups with choreography and recitals. Jeanne volunteered in PTA and Scout and other organizations, helping many in each community she lived in.
As an adult she furthered her own Jewish education, learned Hebrew, and at age 80 became a Bat Mitzvah.
Jeanne served as President of the Temple Sisterhood and Hadassah, and received much deserved recognition for her service. Both Jeanne and her husband Bob enjoyed traveling the country and globe, appreciating the art and culture of the American South West in the 1950s and 60s, and later travels to Scandinavia and Israel.
Jeanne lived a long and productive life and is mourned by a large circle of friends, and family. These include:
Son Jeffrey Alter of Fort Pierce Florida, Daughter in Law JoAnn Hiers Alter (who preceded Jeanne in death), and grandchildren Louis Martin Alter and Melody Alter
Son Hal Alter and Daughter in law Ruth Alter of El Dorado Hills, CA. Grandson Michael Alter and his wife Wesley and great grandchildren Hudson Michael, Grant Benjamin, Finn Hamilton and Miller Wesley of Napa CA, Grandson Dave and wife Allison and great grandchildren Jada Reese, Addison Kate, and Jack David of Austin, TX, also great grandaughter Reese Corbin Alter who preceded Jeanne in death, and Granddaughter Lauren Alter Williams, and Husband Hunter and great grandsons Ryland Christopher and Nolan Michael of Austin, TX.
Daughter Peggy Alter of Portland, OR. Grandson Peter Boches of Hilo, HI and and great grandchildren Althea and Mithril.
Daughter Maxine and Son in Law Ed Alstrom of Pine Brook, New Jersey; Granddaughter Sophie Walsh and her husband Zach and great grandson Whit of Bernardsville, New Jersey; and Granddaughter Nina of Montclair, New Jersey
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hadassah.
Jeanne was born on April 19, 1928 to Louis and Elizabeth Phillips. Her childhood was spent in Everett, MA with her older brother Martin, who preceded Jeanne in death. Jeanne attended Everett Public Schools and the Stanley Brown Dance Studio in Boston. Jeanne danced and roller-skated professionally in night clubs and stage shows, and met her future husband Robert at a resort hotel in Bethel, New Hampshire. One of the highlights of her dance career was performing with the legendary Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. After retiring from her professional career, she still danced, now with Bob as her partner; they became very active with square dance groups, making new friends all over the country.
Jeanne and Bob married in August of 1946, and began their family in Clifton, New Jersey. Jeanne was a devoted wife and mother, and Jewish family life was a priority for her, spending time and celebrating holidays with her large extended family, and later taking care of her aging mother Elizabeth (Bet).
Jeanne remained passionate about dance, teaching children from her home and helping local PTA and theater groups with choreography and recitals. Jeanne volunteered in PTA and Scout and other organizations, helping many in each community she lived in.
As an adult she furthered her own Jewish education, learned Hebrew, and at age 80 became a Bat Mitzvah.
Jeanne served as President of the Temple Sisterhood and Hadassah, and received much deserved recognition for her service. Both Jeanne and her husband Bob enjoyed traveling the country and globe, appreciating the art and culture of the American South West in the 1950s and 60s, and later travels to Scandinavia and Israel.
Jeanne lived a long and productive life and is mourned by a large circle of friends, and family. These include:
Son Jeffrey Alter of Fort Pierce Florida, Daughter in Law JoAnn Hiers Alter (who preceded Jeanne in death), and grandchildren Louis Martin Alter and Melody Alter
Son Hal Alter and Daughter in law Ruth Alter of El Dorado Hills, CA. Grandson Michael Alter and his wife Wesley and great grandchildren Hudson Michael, Grant Benjamin, Finn Hamilton and Miller Wesley of Napa CA, Grandson Dave and wife Allison and great grandchildren Jada Reese, Addison Kate, and Jack David of Austin, TX, also great grandaughter Reese Corbin Alter who preceded Jeanne in death, and Granddaughter Lauren Alter Williams, and Husband Hunter and great grandsons Ryland Christopher and Nolan Michael of Austin, TX.
Daughter Peggy Alter of Portland, OR. Grandson Peter Boches of Hilo, HI and and great grandchildren Althea and Mithril.
Daughter Maxine and Son in Law Ed Alstrom of Pine Brook, New Jersey; Granddaughter Sophie Walsh and her husband Zach and great grandson Whit of Bernardsville, New Jersey; and Granddaughter Nina of Montclair, New Jersey
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hadassah.