Jean was born Aug. 2, 1930, in Flushing, the oldest of three daughters born to Robert and Alice (Maloney) Thompson. She graduated from Mary Louis Academy in Queens and earned a bachelor of arts in English from Cornell University and a master of science in education from Long Island University, C.W. Post Center.

She first came to Southold in 1935, when her parents rented Cocktail Cottage on Pine Neck Road. They later moved to Town Harbor Lane, and Jean had spent all or part of her summers in Southold ever since. She met her husband, Peter, there, and they were married at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold in 1953. Peter and Jean moved to Southold permanently 20 years ago, after raising their three children in Port Washington.

After graduating from Cornell in 1952, Jean became an active and enthusiastic alumna. She was the first woman president of her class and honed her fundraising skills on her classmates.

Jean was a nationally recognized tapestry rug-hooking artist and teacher. She mentored many rug-hookers, helping them design and finish their projects and encouraging some to become teachers themselves. For 15 years she ran the Long Island Rug School each fall at Townsend Manor Inn in Greenport. She was a rare combination of expert rug-hooker and gifted teacher. Jean's students will sorely miss Mondays and Wednesdays in her studio.

She was passionate about whatever she did, and when she settled in Southold, that passion turned toward Eastern Long Island Hospital. She served for many years on the community relations committee, working tirelessly on the annual appeal, volunteering in the Op Shop, selling raffle tickets in front of the IGA and, more recently, co-chairing the annual fundraising gala. She was a fearless fundraiser. Her mantra was, "You just have to ask."

Jean was an accomplished blue water sailor, cruising the East Coast, Bermuda and the Caribbean with her husband. For more than 25 years the waters of Long Island Sound would see Pumpkin Shell on a long-distance race, a family cruise, a junior regatta or sailing into Southold Bay. Later years found her doing the same thing throughout the country in a motor home. Her garden brought her (and the deer) many hours of pleasure, a hobby she shared with her daughter Sue. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, often running away with them on adventures, including a trip to the British Isles with her oldest granddaughter.

Predeceased by her son, Donald, Jean is survived by her husband of 56 years, Peter; her daughters, Beth Kubinec (John) of Lancaster, Pa., and Susan Hodge Withers (Tim) of East Greenwich, R.I.; and her sisters, Lois Anderson of Southold and Judith Collins (David) of Lake Tahoe, Nev. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be directed to Eastern Long Island Hospital, 201 Manor Place, Greenport, NY 11944.

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