Kittery Point-Jean Alvord ( née Jean Drake ) died peacefully at Portsmouth Hospital on February 20 , 2020 at the age of 96 .

Jean was born on May 1, 192 3 , in Albany, NY to Robert and Jean Drake and moved to Winchester, M A as a young girl. She attended Smith College w ith a d ouble major in English and Music , in 1944 graduating Phi Beta Kapp a and w in ning the P oetry P rize . She then taught music in Buxton, ME and surrounding town s before mar r ying Graham Alvord, a Nav al Officer in active duty , in 1 945. Sh ortly afterwards they move d to Kittery Po int , Maine where they remained for th e rest o f her life , sharing her time with many friend s and family . S he had a life long passion for music. After teaching piano and violin to priv ate student s for years, she taught in the Kittery , Maine sc h ool system unt il ret iring at age 62. At the same time, at age 44 she took a second job as a violist in the Portland Maine Symph ony O rchestra , retiring at age 90. She ha d a lifelong addiction and love for tennis and taught it to neighborh o od children and f amily . After wi nning the New England single tennis title at age 12, she continued t o play in age group competiti ons int o her 80s.

Besides her accomplishments in music and tennis , Jean was a s killed poet and m usic composer for private and family occasions. She loved to re ad and watch ed any a n d all tennis matche s. Sh e called on and provided warm support to shut-ins and friends with problems. She was an active and dedicated member of the First Co ngregation al Chur ch of Kittery Point, ME .

In the early years of t heir marriage , Jean and Graham welcomed six children into t heir home . They remember her as a loving and energetic mother who encouraged them to pursue their goals in life .

She was survived by husband, Graham who passed away on February 9, 2020 just nine days after Jean , and five ch ildre n : John and wife Anne Ashley of Carmel H ighland s , CA ; Betsy Labutti of Corinth, V T ; Chr ist opher and wife Vicki of Wimberley, TX ; Joseph and wife She ila Burke of Central Point, O R; and Graham (Chip) and wife Olga of Anchorage, AK . She was pre-deceased by her son Andy . Jean loved and ch erished her num erous grandchildren , great grandchil d ren a nd (yes) even great - great grandchildren.

Friends are invited to visit with her family on Friday March 13, 2020 from 4-7pm in the JS Pelkey and Son Funeral Home 125 Old Post Road Kittery Maine 03904. A memorial service is s cheduled for Mar ch 14, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the First Congregational Church, 23 Pepperre l l Road, Kittery Point , Maine 03905 with a recep t ion t o follow i n the parsonage . Pastor Brian Gru h n wil l officiate the ceremony. All are wel come to attend to cele brate Jean 's l ife. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to her church.

The family especially thank s h e r car egiver s Jenna D ion and Christi na Jordan; her music therapist Cacia K i ng ; and all th e caring staff Webster at Rye and Portsmouth H ospi tal f or their care and dedication at the end of her life .