01/16/2024

Dear staff, faculty, and emeriti colleagues,

We are writing to share the sad news that Professor Emerita Jacqueline (Jacquie) Martin, a long-time faculty member in French Studies, passed away at her home on Jan. 3, 2024, at 101 years and eight months. Jacquie chaired the Department of Foreign Languages for several years and was a founding member of the Master of Comparative Literature program, a collaborative program with the Department of English in the 1970s.

Born in Lunéville in northeast France, Jacquie came to the United States at 17 to escape WWII.  She first lived with an aunt in Seattle, where she learned enough English to enroll in the University of Washington. She graduated from Boston College and earned her doctorate from the University of Oregon. After several years as a temporary instructor at several regional colleges - including the University of Puget Sound - she was offered a full-time faculty position at the Claremont Colleges. Jacquie returned to Puget Sound in 1969, when she secured a tenure-line faculty position until her retirement in 1987.

Jacquie enjoyed her colleagues and students and was most appreciated by those whose lives she touched. She was preceded in death by her parents, Justin and Marcelle Martin, and her life partner, Professor Emerita Esperanza Gurza. Jacquie remained an avid reader, and even as her health deteriorated over the years, she remained lucid till her last days. She continued to enjoy her many friends from France and the local Mexican community, her beautiful garden, and the hungry squirrels that came for their daily meals at her kitchen door.

Jacquie was grateful for Liliana Barajas's exceptionally loving home care, the companionship of Professor Emeritus Michel Rocchi, and the comfort she received from her hospice care team. A private memorial will be held for the distribution of her ashes. Those who wish to pay tribute to Jacquie’s life can contribute to the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends, PO Box 40844 Philadelphia, PA 19107).

With much gratitude,

Drew Kerkhoff, Provost
Dave Wright, University Chaplain
Michel Rocchi. Professor Emeriti