WARE, Jane Hopper, died peacefully on January 27, 2018, at her residence in Richmond, Va. Described in a local article as a “sculptor and erudite Californian- turned- Richmonder,” she was born in Pasadena, Calif., and attended Polytechnic School there. Her memories of growing up in Southern California, with her two brothers and sister, remained vivid throughout her life. Following her life-long passion for art, she then ventured across the country to Bennington College in Vermont, where she majored in sculpture and psychology. On family vacation in Gloucester, Mass., she met her future husband, Edward Winslow Ware Jr., of Boston. Shortly after they wed, the couple moved to Richmond, where Winslow entered the family business at L.H. Jenkins Inc. Book Manufacturers. Richmond traditions were bit of a culture change for Jane, but she quickly immersed herself into the artistic and social life of her new city, discovering the offerings of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Virginia Commonwealth University, from which she received an additional degree in art education. She was a driving force in the founding of the Richmond Artists Association, 1708 and Art Space galleries, as well as Virginia Museum Council. Times spent in her dark room or studio were her happy places. Jane explored and excelled in numerous mediums, including silkscreen, sculpture, painting, print making, drawing and photography. Her works were featured in major exhibits in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and New York. She leaves a legacy of her works in collections of banks, hospitals, colleges, businesses and private collectors. Jane also taught art at St. Christopher’s and St. Andrew’s Schools. She was an avid bridge, crossword and tennis player, longtime member of the Country Club of Virginia, and loved to entertain and travel. She often took her children and grandchildren to visit family, friends and old haunts in California. A profile of Jane in a recent Westminster Canterbury newsletter summed her up as “an extraordinary, hard-working, family matriarch. What an inspiration she is to us all.” Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Jane Hopper of Pasadena, Calif.; her siblings, Harry and Wilbur Hopper and Florence Boom; and her husband, Edward W. Ware. She is survived by three sons, Edward Ware III, Norfolk, Henry M. Ware (Robin), Richmond and Alexander H. Ware (Amy), Minneapolis; as well as seven grandchildren, Edward Ware IV, Herndon, Andrew Ware (Lisa), Richmond, Campbell Ware, Washington, D.C., Peyton Ware, Raleigh, Hailey Ware, Denver, Liza Ware, Denver and Katharine Ware, Boston; and great-grandson, Graham Ware. As the last of a Hopper generation, she was a family pillar for numerous nieces and nephews as well. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. on March 3, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to 1708 Gallery or St. Andrew’s School in Richmond.
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) – Wednesday, January 31, 2018
