Jane Dornan Smith

— Jane Suddards Ledyard Dornan Smith, 87, of Ledyard died peacefully at home Feb. 3, 2021. Born June 13, 1933, in Upper Darby, Pa., she was predeceased by her husband, Capt. William E. “Wee” Smith, who passed away May 22, 2020, and her parents, Robert Reach Dornan and Emily Suddards Dornan.

Survivors include her children: Beth of Windhoek, Namibia, Africa; Bill and his wife, Becky, of Bloomington, Minn.; and Kathryn and her partner, Linda Moulton, of Worcester, Mass. Jane’s three granddaughters and their families all reside in Minnesota: Amy and Andy Harings of Plymouth, Allison and Eric Mann of Edina, and Jennifer and Bryan Schmitz of Dayton. Her great-grandsons include Spencer and Quinn Harings, Bennett and Carter Mann, and Payton Schmitz.

Jane also is survived by her dear cousins, Dixianne McCall Penney of Southbury and Marsh and Susan McCall of Menlo Park, Calif., and their families.

A graduate of Yeadon High School (Lansdowne, Pa.), Jane earned a Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College, where she majored in European history, graduating in 1955. She was an exceptional three-sport athlete (field hockey, basketball, softball) and received the Charlotte Pyle Award as the outstanding senior class athlete. A member of the Athletic Association, Jane also was honored with the Connecticut College “C” Award for significant contributions to the athletics program.

In her freshman year, Jane met the love of her life, Coast Guard Academy Cadet Wee Smith (CGA ’53). After marrying July 2, 1955, they moved to the Coast Guard Base in Kodiak, Alaska, then a U.S. territory. Subsequent military assignments sent them to Monterey, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; San Francisco, Calif.; New Castle, N.H.; Boston, Mass.; and New York, N.Y.

Jane was a supportive military spouse who was active in Coast Guard Wives Associations in several locales. An enthusiastic host, she warmly welcomed many friends and family members into the

Smith home over the years. Maintaining a disciplined and loving household during Wee’s duties at sea, Jane ensured that education, sports, music and theater were significant features of raising their three children.

The Smiths’ lives came full circle in 1980, when they returned to Southeastern Connecticut, establishing retirement roots in Ledyard. Jane was a compassionate volunteer for three decades, driving cancer patients and the blind to appointments and teaching English as a second language to local immigrants. In addition to actively supporting CGA ’53 endeavors, Jane was involved in the Connecticut College Alumni Association. She served on the board of directors from 2003 to 2009 and was CC ’55 president from 2005 to 2018.

Sports remained a prominent part of Jane’s adult life, and in 1997 she was inducted into the Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to playing USFHA club field hockey for several years, she was a rated N.H. high school field hockey official in the 1970s.

Jane and Wee were regular fans at their children’s many athletic events in New Hampshire and through their collegiate play. They also cheered for the UConn and Stanford women’s basketball teams as well as the Minnesota Twins. They were especially proud of their granddaughters’ many soccer achievements.

While in high school, Jane joined the American Contract Bridge League, beginning a lifelong love of the game and accomplishment at the highest amateur levels. Competing in regional and national tournaments, she achieved ACBL Life Master status with her 300th point in 1969 as a member of the N.H. Bridge Association. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Jane and her partner beat 20,000 other North American participants to win the 2001 Red, White and Blue Bridge Bash, an ACBL fundraiser for victims’ families.

Joining bridge clubs wherever she lived, Jane also promoted and gave back to the game. During the 1970s, she was editor/publisher of the Seacoast (N.H.) Kibitzer newsletter. From 1993 to 2002, she served on the Connecticut Bridge Association board of directors while editing/ publishing CBA’s Kibitzer. Throughout her career, in addition to teaching bridge lessons, Jane was a mentor for others and partnered with players of all levels, particularly beginners, to support their improvement.

In 2003, Jane received the New England Bridge Conference Larry Weiss Trophy, awarded to a player who succeeds while exhibiting superior behavior and gracious presence at the bridge table. She secured her 5,000th master point in 2016, earning Diamond Life Master prestige. At the time of her death, Jane was among the top 1.7% of all New England players and the top 3% of ACBL players nationally. In Connecticut, she was ranked 33rd among current players and sixth among women.

A passionate Jeopardy viewer and crossword solver, Jane regularly completed the New York Times Sunday puzzle. Proud of her birthright as an only child, she was especially notorious for indulging in what she considered the two basic food groups: chocolate and ice cream.

As an ardent Disney enthusiast, Jane led many family trips to Disney Parks. She and Wee enjoyed traveling to see family and friends, and they took pride in having visited all 50 states as well as several countries.

From 1969 to 1980, Jane was a member of the United Church of Christ in North Hampton, N.H. She later was a congregant at Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry.

Jane’s remains will be inurned alongside Wee in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Columbarium, with a memorial service to be scheduled later. Donations in her memory may be made to the Camel Athletics Fund at Connecticut College: https://www.conncoll. edu/camelathleticsnetwork/ camel-athletics-fund/.