Jean (Ford) Kleinschmidt

Jean (Ford) Kleinschmidt, age 88, of Maynard Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 20, 2021. Born in Utica, New York on July 19, 1932, she was the daughter of her adoptive parents, the late Joseph and Helen Ford and her biological parents the late George and Iva Myrtle (Eggeling) Davis. Jean was raised and educated in Arlington, Massachusetts, graduating from Arlington High School, class of 1950. She received her Associate of Business Administration from Utica School of Commerce and then went on to Bentley College receiving a certificate for Recruiting and Selecting Employees. Jean worked at Flaherty, Bliss & Company, Law Firm in Boston for 8 years as an administrative assistant until 1962. While raising 4 children, she held several part time positions such as a nurses aide at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, library aide and volunteered as a Metco Host Family Coordinator. In the 1980's, she took administrator positions at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, eventually retiring in 2009, at the age of 76. Family was most important to Jean, cherishing time with her six grandchildren. She gave her own children opportunities to explore art, music and culture, insisting that they take music and art classes.. From an early age, her family participated in the Foreign Exchange Student program as well as the Metco Program. Jean loved outdoors activities with family and close friends, playing tennis, cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, sailing, and kayaking. She was a lover of all animals, especially her dogs and birds. Jean is survived by her children, Erich Kleinschmidt and wife Karen of Frederick, MD; David Kleinschmidt and wife Katherine Olney of Acton, MA; Alexander Kleinschmidt of Rockland, MA; Deirdre Kells and husband John Ryan of Maynard, MA; her beloved grandchildren Hannah, Kaila, Nathan, Siobhan, Nicholas and Monica; her niece Renee Ford of Boulder, CO; and her nephew Peter Ford of Unity, NH. Due to the current restrictions, Jean's burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge was private. Gifts in her memory may be made to: Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, (617) 522-7282 https://www.mspca.org/donate-now/