Jean Sturges

Jean Ames Sturges, 94, of Fairfield, Connecticut, died March 1, 2026, after nearly four years at the Carolton Chronic and Convalescent Hospital, a mile from the home she resided in for 50 years. Jean grew up in Rhode Island and attended Wellesley College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in zoology. After college, she worked as a researcher at UConn, Harvard and Arthur D. Little. She met and married Thomas Sturges, originally from Fairfield, while both were living and working in Massachusetts. His career with General Electric would take them from the east coast to the west and back again. In 1972 they made their final move, to Tom’s hometown.

From the start, Jean embraced her life in Fairfield, joining the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, an organization she had been involved with since her early days as a young wife and mother. In addition to providing research and writing for many studies on town issues over the years, she served as the Fairfield League’s president for two years in the mid-1970s. She became an active participant in the Fairfield Villages Wellesley alumnae group. And she sought out ways to volunteer in the community.

Soon enough, she became involved in local government. Over the years, Jean served in a number of positions within the Town of Fairfield. She was elected to the RTM; was appointed to two charter revision commissions; and served originally as chair of the town’s Land Acquisition Commission, continuing as a member for a total of eight years. In 1982 she was named town clerk of Fairfield, appointed to fill out the remaining term of the long-serving Mary Katona, who had died in office. She was most proud of being asked by then First Selectman John Sullivan to serve on the special ethics committee he set up to investigate charges of zoning irregularities. In 2002 she was honored with the John J. Sullivan Award, given annually to a Democrat who has served the party and community with distinction.

Jean put some of her college zoology training to use volunteering as a Mill River Wetland guide when her children were young. When they were older, she went back to school, earning a degree in accounting from Sacred Heart University and later qualifying as a CPA. She worked as an accountant for a small company in Westport and in subsequent years during tax season as a tax preparer with several area firms. She also offered those skills to nonprofits in town. She donated countless hours over the course of 11 years as assistant treasurer and board member at the newly established Operation Hope of Fairfield, as well as volunteering for many years in the organization’s annual tag sale and later at its thrift store. In 1998 she was selected as Op Hope’s honoree for its annual May fundraising event. And she volunteered with the VITA program, which offers tax-preparation help free of charge to all. In 2008 the Fairfield Rotary selected Jean, a nonmember, to receive its highest honor, the Paul Harris award, acknowledging her embodiment of that organization’s commitment to “service above self.”

Jean and her husband were married for 53 years before Tom’s death in 2014. Together, they spent time fishing, in Connecticut and Vermont; playing bridge regularly, in both duplicate and contract bridge groups; and searching for treasures at flea markets and tag sales. On her own, Jean enjoyed gardening and reading, and was a very competent seamstress and knitter. Her husband teased her good-naturedly throughout their married life for her innate clumsiness. She joined in the laughter. And surely she couldn’t have been the only wetland guide to fall in while wading out to net river specimens.

By the end of her very long life, Jean herself had forgotten all of this, but those who follow remember for her. She is survived by daughter Betsy; son Rick and wife Devon; granddaughter Hannah; grandson Harrison; sister Gail; and many nieces, nephews and grandniblings. Jean’s ashes will be buried next to her husband’s in a private ceremony. A celebration of life service will be planned for later in the spring or summer.

Memorial donations may be made to Operation Hope of Fairfield.