Jan Williams

Jan Williams, of Princeton, NJ and most recently, Maryville, TN, died of ALS, Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 6:30 a.m. EDT. Born January 21, 1945, in San Francisco, CA, the daughter of the late Colonel Bailey Arthur Williams, (USAF Ret.), and Theodora (Clapp) Williams, Jan left no survivors but many beloved friends. Her sole sibling, Steve, is deceased. After graduating from Blackford High School, San Jose, CA in 1962, she earned in 1970 her BS in Biology/Chemistry/Pre-Med from San Jose State University. She pursued immunochemistry and immunophysiology research at Cal Tech and Stanford, attended Graduate Medical School at Medical College of Pennsylvania, and in 1972 pursued schizophrenia biochemistry research in Princeton, NJ. Interest in data processing and operating systems ultimately led to a computer programming position at the New Jersey Department of Taxation. In the mid-1980s, Jan evangelized the Apple Macintosh, serving as president and newsletter editor for the Princeton Macintosh Users Group and helping operate an Internet-access trailer at Fort Dix, NJ to support Kosovo refugees. She also founded MouseCalls, a computer consultancy catering to seniors. She served the North Central New Jersey Chapter of Mensa as newsletter editor and on the International Executive Committee. Her Welsh heritage played a big role in Jan's life leading her to participate in a variety of Welsh Society activities including the annual Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu festival and even to naming her service dogs Celyn and Gruffydd. A lifetime member of the Red Hat Society, with chapters worldwide including Wales, Jan regularly wore hats she decorated in a subtle fashion. Jan exemplified her commitment to service, in part, by her advocacy for the Americans With Disabilities Act, years as an unfailing platelets donor, and ultimately at Children's Health Environmental Coalition where she was an early adopter of Internet technology and finally, the authoring of a book, Healthy Homefront, focusing on creating a child-safe home. Her congress of friends generously benefited from Jan's remarkable ability to connect strangers who would, almost magically, develop meaningful relationships. A memorial service will be held at Smith's The Life e Event Center, 1404 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, TN, Saturday, September 29 at 5 p.m. Friends are invited to share dinner following the service. A second memorial service will be held early October, at All Saints Church, Princeton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to Wilderwood Service Dogs, 1319 Tuckaleechee Trail, Maryville, TN 37803. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithMaryville.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jan Williams please visit our Sympathy Store.