Jane Buchanan
March 28, 1944 - April 10, 2015
Our beloved Jane Buchanan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 10, 2015.
She was born in 1944 in Miami, Florida where her father was stationed while serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Jane’s mother, Anita Jane Means, and father, Robert Allen Means Sr., were originally from Hutchinson, Kansas; but she lived for most of her early years in Annapolis, Maryland, where her father continued his naval career at the U. S. Naval Academy after the War. She graduated from Annapolis High School in 1962. Her early childhood included several years in Naples, Italy where she learned Italian and how to play the accordion, an instrument she enjoyed playing during holidays and special occasions for the rest of her life.
Jane attended the University of Maryland (Frostburg) and earned a B.S. in Biology and Physical Education. She met Mike Buchanan while in college and they married in 1967. She taught high school biology and physical education for several years in Maryland. After having her first child, Tad Michael, she worked for the National Bureau of Standards on toy safety standards for children. Mike and Jane were also blessed with two daughters, Brooke Means and Corey Anne.
In 1977, her husband was transferred from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco and they settled in Orinda, California where they have lived at the same address for 38 years. Jane created a welcoming family home surrounded by her beautiful gardens. It became the center of family life for her children and grandchildren and the site of innumerable festive events with friends and family. Jane served on the Board of the Berkeley City Ballet for many years while her daughters were dancing there.
At age 40, Jane went back to college and earned a B.S. in Nursing from St. Mary’s College / Samuel Merritt University Nurs- ing Program and then worked for Lamorinda Pediatrics in Lafayette, CA for a number of years. She kept her nursing license active by meeting the annual continuing education requirements from the date of her graduation until her passing. Jane’s commitment to nursing exemplified her selfless nature, she always put others first. She was also an advocate and advisor to people close to her with health issues. Her quiet, practical and nurturing wisdom was a gift to her parents, in-laws, husband, children and grandchildren that will be greatly missed.
Jane is survived by Mike, her devoted husband of 48 years, three loving children and their spouses; and seven grandchildren, all of whom live in the San Francisco Bay Area: Tad and Emilia of Mill Valley, along with their children Michael (10), Reina (7), Jack (6); Brooke & Daniel Markovski of Montclair, and their son Sasho (2); Corey and William Pigeon of Lafayette, and their children Blake (5), Brady (3), Campbell (2). Jane is also survived by her mother Anita Jane Means, and siblings Marsha Lynn Smith, Robert Allen Means Jr. and Robyn Lee Smith, all residing in Maryland.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Jane at 2:00 PM, Friday, May 1, 2015 at Hillcrest Congregational Church, Pleasant Hill, CA. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations in memory of Jane Buchanan be made to support the research of Dr. Andrew Ko at UCSF. Please make checks payable to the “UCSF Foundation” with memo “Andrew Ko research in memory of Jane Buchanan.” Contributions can be sent to UCSF c/o Sarah Krumholz, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339.