Jeanne Corbin

April 6, 1920 – October 16, 1981

Jeanne Corbin joined the Peace Corps in January 1980 and was a health education volunteer in the Tropical Medicine Research Unit of the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. While there, she trained people in caring for malnourished children and would travel across the country aiding in research and serving as a role model and source of encouragement and hope to those she served.

Prior to joining the Peace Corp, Jeanne dedicated her life to helping underprivileged children and children with physical challenges. During her younger years, she was a loving mother and devoted her time raising three children while continuing her volunteerism. For example, she volunteered as a teacher at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts while earning a graduate degree.

As a mother, she would take her children on excursions searching for special minerals for childhood collections, she would encourage piano and French horn practice and cheer us on at science fairs. A fond memory after New England blizzards was to scoop fresh show and pour boiled maple syrup to make a yummy snack.

Hours before her tragic ride on a bus in Jamaica she was said to have spoken of wondrous times, that her eyes were filled with radiance, and that she seemed very happy in her last few living hours. She has been deeply missed by her family.

– Shared by Cindy Grabau (Jeanne’s daughter)