Jane Drobnick Peabody

May 26, 1941 - May 4, 2023

Jane Ermine Drobnick was born in Santa Monica, California, to Louis and Alys Drobnick. Her dad worked for McDonnell Douglas, and her mom was the first woman elected to the city council. Jane attended Santa Monica High School, where she discovered an early passion for leadership and debate. After graduating from the University of the Pacific, a love of travel was sparked when her SMHS classmate Frank Peabody helped to book Jane’s first trip abroad. They married shortly thereafter and planted seeds in Foster City. Frank and Jane bought one of its first Eichler homes in neighborhood #1, where they raised their daughter Amy.

Even though they divorced, Jane had caught the travel bug. She spent her early career teaching English at El Camino High in South San Francisco but was soon whisking Amy off to Asia and Europe. Jane’s favorites included Hong Kong, Puerto Vallarta, East Africa, and Italy, especially Positano on the Amalfi Coast. When Amy became busy with school, Jane tapped a new adventurer, Tony “Butch” Cuneo. Flashback to the ‘70s, when she taught this high-school wrestler with a crush on his teacher to read, leading to a life-long friendship. After marrying in 1994 and living in the wine country, Tony and Jane retired to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She spent her days in the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, acting onstage in “Mame” and hosting friends in her luxury beachside condo overlooking PV’s vibrant Malecón.

To all who knew her, Jane is, and will always be, unforgettable. A powerful and fiercely loving woman, she treasured the finer things in life. When visiting her home, you were transported to new cultures with worldly art, beautiful flowers, blue and white porcelain, and her stunning wardrobe and jewelry collection. Jane introduced everyone she met to transformative experiences: a night on Broadway, an African safari, a Barry, Neil, or Barbra concert, a Mediterranean cruise, high tea at Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, and so many more. Her loved ones shared the most wonderful and hilarious stories to celebrate her 80th birthday in 2021. Jane enjoyed watching the video time and again while navigating dementia and living in memory care.

Always in our hearts, she is deeply missed by her daughter Amy, son-in-law Brent, grandchildren Rafe and Rhys, and her brother Lou and his family.

Even though she didn’t coin the phrase “Jane Peabody It,” Jane believed in living life to its fullest and breaking through barriers to make extraordinary things happen. May we all embody her spirit now and always.

In lieu of a celebration of life, please share your memories or notes of condolence online at legacy. com. If you would like to make a contribution in her memory, please give to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Puerto Vallarta or the Safari West Foundation in Santa Rosa.