Janice Susan Gaynor Bandeen ’81

Janice Susan Gaynor Bandeen ’81, born in New York City on April 7, 1960, passed away in Larkspur, California, on September 11, 2012. She came to Dartmouth from Newtown High School in Jackson Heights, New York, and majored in policy studies. After graduation she lived in Manhattan with fellow ’81s and worked at public relations firm Burson-Marsteller. She married Mark Bandeen ’83 in 1985 and they moved to the Bay Area, California, and raised children Bradford and Blair ’12. Mark sadly passed away in 2009. Jan was splitting her time between Shell Beach, California, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a partner in a clean energy software startup when she went into a diabetic coma and died three months later. Jan was most proud of her work coaching East Palo Alto and Arroyo Grande high school students in competitive college admissions. She had a remarkable track record of steering numerous kids into top universities with full financial aid. She was also active with the National Fragile X Syndrome Foundation in support of son Brad and was a tireless advocate for local support services for those with special needs. Jan was unfailingly energetic, sharply intelligent, warm, open, compassionate, funny, and a light that burned brightly and irreplaceably. She adored her children, warm beaches, good food, and international travel. In addition to her children, Jan is survived by brother Steven and sister-in-law Donna.