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Jan Eichhorn
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Janice Eichhorn, 71, died on Wednesday, July 15 at Georgetown University Hospital. Jan was an activist -- in her neighborhood, Ward 6, the District and nationally. She died of complications of lung cancer surgery.
Born March 2, 1938 in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Herschel and Bernice Eichhorn, she lived in Mounds and Cairo, Illinois. She attended the University of Illinois and Washington University. Jan came to Washington to work on Capitol Hill, first for her local Congressman Ken Gray in 1964 and then for Senator Gaylord Nelson. She continued her participation in national Democratic politics as a delegate to the historic 1968 National Democratic Convention in Chicago, for McGovern in Wisconsin in 1972 and for Paul Simon’s presidential campaign.
In the early 1970s, Jan shifted her focus to the District and the fight to expand home rule and for full representation in Congress. As executive director of the Self-Determination for DC Coalition, she managed the lobbying for home rule for over 80 national and local organizations. After the successful passage of the Home Rule Act, she joined the DC Government in 1975, where her first position was with the Mayor's Bicentennial Office, coordinating an exchange program involving governors, Members of Congress and residents with District elected officials and residents. Her struggle for full voting representation for the Colony of the District of Columbia continued throughout her life.
After serving as issues director in Marion Barry's 1978 mayoral campaign, she was first a policy analyst for the City Administrator and then as a bureau chief in the Department of Human Services, in charge of deinstitutionalizing Forest Haven, the institution that housed the mentally handicapped. Jan not only met, she exceeded the court-ordered quota, avoiding a contempt citation for the Mayor and leaving DHS top-ranked in the nation for the deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities.
From 1984 until she retired in 1992, Jan was a senior policy analyst in the Mayor's office, assessing and developing programs for children and seniors. Retirement, however, meant that Jan was able to devote that much more of herself to community and political activities. Her most important contribution was as founder of the after-school tutoring, mentoring and enrichment program, Friends of Tyler School (FOTS), which she started in 1990. Now called Jan's Tutoring House, it first focused on the children of Potomac Gardens and the nearby Tyler Elementary School, but now welcomes participation from all of Capitol Hill and the nearby neighborhoods across the Anacostia.
As developed by Jan, about 70 children each year (kindergarten to 9th grade) are paired one-on-one with volunteer tutor/mentors for intensive instruction, as well as more casual picnics, outings and other activities. The school year and summer programs are held in adjoining townhouses on Pennsylvania Ave., SE. Long-term family-based friendships are not uncommon, often lasting through high school, college and beyond. Many children have benefited over the 19 years of this program. Many completed high school and college, and some are now contributing to the community as young adults including one who teaches science at a District high school.
Jan was always politically engaged, serving as chair of Ward 6 Democrats, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, delegate to the Statehood Constitutional Convention (6B), the local chapter of Americans for Democratic Action as well as in innumerable campaigns -- for mayor, city council and the school board. The Jewish Community Center, SW Neighborhood Assembly Capitol Hill Community Foundation, and Southwest House all benefited from Jan's activism and financial support. She was smart, modest and an unpretentious leader who would do all that she could for the betterment of the community.
Jan was also interested in the welfare of all four legged creatures having adopted and provided for many within her home. Her interest in historic preservation culminated in a film about the now-closed Capitol Hill restaurant, Sherrill's, which was nominated for an Oscar. She accompanied the producer/director to the 1990 Academy Awards.
Jan received many local honors over the years, including from CHAMPS (Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals), the annual Community Achievement award from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation in 1994, and as Hometown Hero from WETA-TV.
Jan's refuge for many years from the pace of Washington DC was her beloved Hut, a small cabin on a tiny pond on several acres approached from a dirt road nestled deep in the Virginia Shenandoah Valley. Jan enjoyed educating her guests about the birds, flowers and trees native to the area.
Jan is survived by her sister, Diane Leibert, her niece and nephew Kathy and Eric Leibert and her nephew’s three children Autumn, Ross and Juli Leibert, her three pets, Jake, Boo and Jennie, and many friends and colleagues.
Jan leaves our Colony comforted that a Democratic president finally leads our nation, concerned that thousands of District children await mentorship and that many District cats and dogs await adoption.
The memorial service will be on Saturday, September 12. Details will be announced at a later date. |
