Postlude
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Julie Woodford
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Remembering Jane Tunstall Lingo
The University lost a special friend Feb. 23
with the passing of Jane Tunstall Lingo, BA ’46.
One of the first women invited to join the National
Press Club in 1971, Jane was a trailblazer for
women journalists and a dedicated alumna and long-term
employee of The George Washington University.
For more than 60 years, Jane was an integral
part of the GW community. She earned a BA in 1946.
She returned to the University in 1956 as a staff
writer in the Office of University Relations.
By 1964, she was assistant director of university
relations, a position she held until her death.
The daughter of Benjamin Harrison Lingo and Marie
Tunstall Lingo, Jane resided in her family’s
home in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Northwest
Washington. Her father was a navy man, and her
mother was director of Washington’s United
Service Organization office.
Jane Lingo outside of Strong Hall in 1946
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Jane immersed herself in the District. She volunteered
with the American Red Cross, assisted the USO
with various events, and was a member of the Junior
League of Washington. She also served on the Adams
Morgan Neighborhood Association. She worked for
the Democratic National Committee in the office
of the DNC Vice Chairman Margaret Price during
several presidential campaigns and assisted with
presidential inaugurations. She also was a board
member of the YWCA of the National Capital Area.
At GW she also kept active. Additional clubs
and honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board,
Pi Beta Phi sorority, the GW Hospital Women’s
Board, the Faculty Women’s Club, and Columbian
Women.
A member of the National Society of the Colonial
Dames of America, she was a docent at Dumbarton
House. She was an active supporter of Hillwood
Museum and Gardens on Linnean Avenue, Blair House,
the Washington National Opera, and the Shakespeare
Theatre. She also was a member of the Sulgrave
Club, a social and cultural club that worked to
save the Wadsworth House on Massachusetts Avenue.
Jane also was active with the First Church of
Christ, Scientist on Euclid Street, N.W.
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“In a world that often changes faster than
we wish, Jane Lingo was a constant,” says
President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. “She
truly loved this University and everyone engaged
in it. And she served GW well, as a student, administrator,
writer, trusted friend, and goodwill ambassador
to the community. Her accomplishments were many,
yet Jane would only and always celebrate the successes
of others. Her positive presence will continue
to be felt whenever and wherever friends and colleagues
gather to share the joy of a well written book,
a well performed play, a well spoken sentence,
or a sunny day. I am proud to call Jane both colleague
and friend and I miss her already. To borrow one
of her favorite phrases, Jane, ‘we shall
see you anon.’ ”
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