Jean Folz Riser, 95, died peacefully in her home in Damariscotta with family present on July 20. She was coherent and knew her family until the end.
She was born on Nov. 26, 1919 in Kalamazoo, Mich. to Harry and Ruth (Desenberg) Folz, and was raised there. She attended Kalamazoo College, a small liberal arts college, from which she graduated in 1941 with a B.A. in biology. Later, while attending the University of Michigan’s summer graduate biology program at Douglas Lake, she met Nathan (Pete) Riser, her future husband. Following Jean’s completion of her M.A. in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, she studied and became a Certified Medical Technologist at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich. During WWII, Jean worked in a pathology lab near Lansing, Mich. Her enthusiasm for that work was evident in her stories and detailed knowledge of pathogens.
Before moving to Damariscotta, Jean spent over fifty years in the Boston area, the first ten in Sharon, and the remaining years in Swampscott. During that period, Jean was a hospital pathology lab volunteer, a college anatomy instructor in Boston, a Girl Scout troop leader, a conservation advocate, and docent at the Peabody-Essex Museum of Salem, Mass. She was a lifelong learner, an avid naturalist, birder, and walker. Past 90, she was still able to walk two miles and to enjoy identifying fauna and flora.
An avid photographer from her youth, Jean learned to develop her own photographs and to use a digital camera before some of her children did. She learned to drive in 1933, at 14, and renewed her license for the last time in November 2014.
During the nearly 50 years that Pete was associated with Northeastern University, Jean looked forward to collecting trips throughout the world. She also received great joy meeting and getting to know graduate students and visiting professors, many of whom became lifelong friends. Jean was a world traveler, who took great pleasure in attending international scientific meetings with Pete. She also enjoyed living in New Brunswick and in New Zealand during sabbatical years, as well as participating in an East African ornithological safari and a South Seas sailing adventure.
Throughout her life, Jean maintained detailed records of natural history, family health, travel, and other events of interest. In addition, she possessed encyclopedic knowledge on a great variety of topics from Asian art to Wagnerian opera to European history to scientific discoveries.
Jean was predeceased by husband, Pete; parents, Harry and Ruth; and younger brothers, Robert and William.
She will be greatly missed by children, Claire Riser of Waldoboro, Chris Riser and spouse Julie Sexton of Edgecomb, and Katharine Riser and spouse Nancy Perez of Agoura Hills, Calif.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many recent friends from Schooner Cove.
A service of remembrance will take place at 3 p.m., Sun., Aug. 9, at Schooner Cove, 35 Schooner St., Damariscotta.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory may be made to Lincoln County Animal Shelter, 27 Atlantic Hwy., Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com.
Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, Belfast.
