Troy officials remember Jeanne Stine

TROY – Officers previous and current pay their respects to Jeanne Stine, an inspiring pioneer within the metropolis of Troy who died Oct. 28 on the age of 96.

Stine joined the Troy Metropolis Council in 1976, making historical past as the primary lady to take action. She then made historical past once more when, after sixteen years of council work, she was elected town’s first feminine mayor, a task she held from 1992 to 2001. She was then re-elected to the council in 2003.

Stine was born in Detroit on June 18, 1929, the son of William Lyle and Eleanor Laura Goodwin. She was the eldest of 11 kids, with seven youthful sisters and three youthful brothers.

“And one of many issues she all the time advised me and everybody else (is that her mom) instilled in all her kids a love of studying and a love of books, and Jeanne beloved studying,” stated Cindy Stewart, Troy’s former communications director. “She did not also have a TV… and if she did, she by no means watched it.”

She began her profession as a phone operator at Michigan Bell earlier than working in schooling. She labored as a instructor and college counselor for Clawson Public Faculties for 33 years.

“(Stine) as soon as advised me that, I believe, a principal stated to her, ‘Oh, that group of boys – they’re unhealthy boys, you realize? You’ll be able to’t assist them.’ And for Jeanne, no youngster was unhealthy. They only wanted an grownup to take heed to them,” Stewart stated. “And it turned out that these boys walked previous her home on the way in which to high school and carried her books to high school.”

Stewart stated Stine was equally considerate as each mayor and council member.

“It is humorous – I bumped into somebody at a yoga class, we have been speaking about how Jeanne died, and she or he stated once they moved to Troy early on… that they had a visitors drawback due to the place their home was on the nook. They known as and have been shocked when the mayor got here to their home to take heed to their considerations. (Stine) stated, ‘I am going to do no matter I can that can assist you.’ This lady stated they have been so impressed that the mayor would come out and take heed to them,” Stewart stated. “And that was Jeanne – anybody who known as her, she went to their home, listened to what their issues have been and helped discover a strategy to resolve their issues.”

Along with her work as a metropolis official, Stine was additionally concerned in organizations such because the Troy Group Coalition, the Boys and Ladies Membership of Troy, the Troy Rotary Membership, the Troy Historic Society, the Troy Firefighters Ladies’s Auxiliary and the Clawson/Troy Elks.

In keeping with her obituary at AJ Desmond & Sons Funeral House, Stine was additionally a founding member of Troy Youth Companies within the Seventies, the place she supplied help to youth earlier than social staff and youth outreach applications existed within the colleges.

“Certainly one of her proudest accomplishments was establishing a youth bureau throughout the Troy Police Division,” the obituary stated.

Stine has been acknowledged for her work on quite a few events, with honors together with Troy’s Distinguished Citizen in 1985, and likewise acquired the Meritorious Service Award from the Michigan Municipal League and an Excellent Public Service Award from the Clawson-Troy Elks Lodge and the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2021, a park was named in her honor: Jeanne M. Stine Group Park, positioned at 241 City Middle Dr.

“Bethany and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Jeanne Stine this morning,” town’s present mayor, Ethan Baker, stated in an e-mail. “Jeanne’s achievements as mayor of Troy and as a long-serving councilwoman are well-known and felt in our metropolis. Much less well-known is the direct affect she has had on me throughout my ten years in (Troy) authorities.”

“Over the previous few years, Jeanne has been extraordinarily supportive of my household, my campaigns and my service to this metropolis – giving me a elevate after I wanted it, and all the time offering a listening ear and a eager perspective,” Baker stated. “She beloved Troy and stayed in constant contact with me and this neighborhood till the tip. And I really beloved her. We’re feeling an amazing loss at present, personally in our dwelling and throughout town. Please be a part of me in praying for Jeanne’s household and appreciating Jeanne for who she was.”

In her private life, Stine loved spending time along with her household and her German Shepherds, touring and stress-free at her cottage in Cheboygan.

“Certainly one of her most cherished traditions was taking part within the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Stroll along with her sisters, a celebration of each the great thing about Michigan and the unbreakable bonds of household,” the obituary stated.

Stine is preceded in loss of life by her husband Jack and her daughter Sheila. She is survived by quite a few siblings, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Funeral occasions passed off from November 7 to eight. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes are inspired to the Jeanne M. Stine Household Park Fund at troycf.org/donate/jeanne-m-stine-family-parks-fund. It’s also possible to plant a tree in her honor.