Jane P. Campbell M’87
Jane P. Campbell, Colchester, VT, died January 13, 2024. Jane was the Saint Michael’s College Director of Health Services for many years, and five of her children are graduates of the College, as are two grandchildren.
Jane grew up in Glens Falls, NY, believing that education was the most important way to advance oneself in the world, and she instilled that belief in her children.
She graduated from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Manhattan and received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University. With children still at home, she went back to school and graduated in the first class of the University of Vermont’s new nurse practitioner program. She earned a master’ s degree from Saint Michael’s College, commencing alongside her daughter Jane, who received her undergraduate degree that same year.
Jane accomplished many things during her long career. She was a proud nurse through and through. She entered the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. After the war she went to work in the field of public health as a Frontier Nurse in the rural Adirondacks.
She met and fell in love with Francis, and they began their married life together in Vermont. Years later, while raising their family, she went back to work for a time with the Burlington Visiting Nurses Association.
She went on to become the Director of Health Services at Saint Michael’s College for many years until retiring. In retirement, seeing a lack of available healthcare for many in our area, she started a free clinic at Fanny Allen with her friend Amy Hamlin, working for those Vermonters unable to obtain health insurance. She served as a member of the Vermont Board of Nursing, eventually being appointed President of that board by Governor Madeline Kunin.
Jane loved her profession. It allowed her to serve those in need. She believed that nurses were an instrument of care, compassion, kindness and strength during times of hardship. She was a teacher and mentor to many, and it was her pride and joy to see two of her daughters follow her into the profession.
A lifelong dyed in the wool FDR Democrat, Jane could be found at the center of many a boisterous discussion of politics, always holding her own and then some with members of the clan who might not see things the same way. She loved to travel and immersed herself in knowledge about every place she visited. But of all the places she would visit, she would say that Ireland beckoned more than any. She knew the simple things of life were the best, like a long walk on Crescent Beach with her sister Eileen, beating her son-in-law Dan at cribbage, a dip in the Lake, the Sunday NYT, a kayak ride on her beloved Shelburne Bay, a “wee sip” at 5 o’clock with Francis, summer evenings watching the sunset over the Adirondacks or dinner on the porch with her family. These were the things that brought her joy.
At the core of her being was her Catholic faith. Living that faith manifested itself in every aspect of her life; from her 56-year marriage to Francis, to the way she cared for her family, to her friendships and her chosen profession. Jane loved being a nurse but her true calling in life was devotion to her family.
Jane’s husband, Francis, died in 2010, and a son predeceased her. She is survived by two sons, William Campbell ’81 and Joseph Campbell ’91, five daughters, Margaret Briand (M’11 and former Saint Michael’s employee), Kathleen Campbell ’82, Maura Brigham ’86, Jane Robitaille ’88, a sister, and extended family including grandsons Richard Briand ’11 and William Briand ’15.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jane’s memory to the Edmundite Missions, c/o Chad McEachern, 1428 Broad Street, Selma, Alabama 36701.