Remembering Jean Zegger
By Sylvie Briber
Our dear Jean Zegger recently passed away at 90 years old. Jean loved the Stockade and the people in it — always passionate and respective, Jean was the essence of an elegant lady!
I and others were often invited for tea to her tasteful home, spiced with conversations about important concerns.
Jean cared a great deal about the preservation of the Stockade, being on the board of the Stockade Association and Schenectady Heritage Foundation.
We have Jean to thank for the beautifully written text of four centuries of Stockade history that grace the pillars at the Gateway entrance to the Stockade (Union St. at Erie Blvd.). Jean was married to John (Jack) Zegger, Stockade Association president for several years in the 1990’s, and together they were a great leadership team in our midst.
They raised their four children here in this beautiful neighborhood. Shortly after I came to the Stockade in 1995, Jack encouraged me to become editor of the Spy, and I hold his blessing in my heart to this day! He created the column, “Letter from the President,” and later ”Stockade Association News.” I dedicated my book, “The Inscription in the Window” to Jack and Jean helped me craft the memorial to him.
Jean was a crackerjack proof reader and often helped me with the Spy, catching errors and writing articles urging preservation. In reading her obituary, I learned she had been a secretary to administrators at Columbia University! Susannah Hand, who spearheaded the Stockade Project “Voices of the Stockade,”, reminds us that in the video Jean Zegger speaks about her passion for the Stockade. Hear Jean in her own words here.
To remember Jean in a special way, a contribution may be made in her memory to the John L. and Jean B. Zegger Memorial Fund of The Schenectady Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 1173, Schenectady, New York 12301-1173; or online at . This fund is restricted for use in the Stockade Historic District.