Jennifer Adams Emnett LaMonte

Jennie died peacefully at home surrounded by her dogs, husband, loving family, dear friends, and beloved students. Born in Portsmouth OH, Jennie was active in 4H showing horses in Lucasville OH. Moving to Columbus, OH while her mama Ruth attended graduate school, Jennie attended the Columbus School for Girls and built a lifelong adoration of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Jennie moved to Birmingham AL when her mama had a faculty position at University of Alabama – Birmingham. Jennie added cheering for the Crimson Tide. Her Mama married Papa Ed to form the blended LaMonte family. She was the first girl with the LaMonte last name to graduate from Westover in Middlebury CT, a school founded by her Aunt Helen.

At Wellesley, Jennie studied Art History as well as honing her social skills at nearby colleges in Cambridge MA. She added cheering for the Crimson, arm in arm with friends Alison, David, Stephanie and more. Jennie made friends easily, remembered their details accurately, and kept them for life.

After Wellesley, she studied Architecture in Cincinnati OH while interning at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge MA, travelling in the Buffiemobile, her 1977 MG Midget. Switching to education, Jennie worked at Phillips Academy in Andover when she met Mark at a social event in Cambridge MA. Following a whirlwind romance, they were married in Birmingham AL on 2 January 1988. They soon settled in Bethlehem PA where Jennie worked for the Allentown Art Museum and studied at Lehigh, earning an MA in History.

She continued graduate studies at the University of New Hampshire and Harvard, splitting her time between New England and Raleigh NC where Mark was in graduate school. Earning an MA in American History from Harvard, Jennie also served as Assistant Senior Tutor for Dudley House and graduate advisor to the Hasty Pudding Club. At Harvard, Jennie discovered her mission: fellowships advising and mentoring students as they chart their career and take first steps towards graduate school and beyond.

While in graduate school at Harvard she also had an initial bout of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a recent relapsed of which contributed to her death. Jennie initially convalesced in Fairhope AL, where she relearned to walk, regained balance and ultimately became a competitive sailor.

Once recovered, she moved to Raleigh NC where she was Director of Fellowships Advising for NC State University and continued racing sailboats. With Mark in Washington DC, Jennie was the Director of the Mitchell Scholars program as well as mentor and advisor to students, technology policy wonks, and early-career colleagues. Moving to Greenville SC she continued this work with STEM students in the College of Science at Clemson.

She cultivated a following of students, colleagues, and friends across the US and the world. Jennie cherished their successes and everyday stories, whether hearing of them from afar or joining them for moments together in the US and overseas. Her Sunday “family dinners” became a lively salon of students, family, and friends. Jennie loved and was loved by the people in her life.

Jennie is survived by her husband of 37 years, Mark Johnson of Greenville SC and parents Ruth Bradbury LaMonte and Edward Shannon LaMonte, brother Bradbury LaMonte, sister Rachel LaMonte, brother Matthew LaMonte (and Mika Martell LaMonte), and nephew Christopher LaMonte all of Birmingham AL. She is also survived by godsons Everett Stephen of University Park MD and Patrick Albert Francis of Richmond VA as well as dogs Barnie and Joie.

She was preceded by grandparents Robert and Beatrice Bradbury and Glenn and Thelma Emnett, all of Portsmouth OH, Aunt Helen LaMonte and Cousin Marion Griswold of Owego, NY, as well as dogs Jennie’s-Pal-Joey, Abbie, Sluggo, Addie, Tommie, Huckie, Jimmie, Bennie, Billie, and Phinnie.

In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations in her name to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Science or to any student in unexpected hardship or economic need.

A Celebration of Jennie and Memorial Service will be at 3:00 PM on 30 May at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greenville SC. Visitation beforehand in the St. Andrew Parish Hall, beginning at 1:00 PM. The wearing of church hats in her honor is encouraged.