Jeanne Marie Sauer

Jeanne †œJan†� Marie Cholet Sauer, 91, a long time resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away March 27, 2013, surrounded by her family, at St. Anthony†™s Hospital Lakewood, CO, from complications of pneumonia. Her family lost a beautiful soul and a true hero. Jeanne was an incredible and inspirational role model, a loving mother, doting grandmother, great grandmother, a caring friend, civic leader and political activist. We will forever be honored that she was with us for so long, passing on to us her appreciation for life. She taught us how to gracefully represent our convictions, reminded us it wasn†™t important to worry about the future or regret the past, but instead to enjoy the moments of the present. She never met a stranger, the people of the world were her neighbors and her children, the great legacy she leaves behind. Jeanne †œpaid it forward†� acting on her beliefs to make the planet a peaceful, clean and safe place for all to thrive in and cherish. We bow our heads in awe and gratitude for this wonderful person, who was our mother. Jeanne was born February 18, 1922, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Mary C. Haywood and Prosper E. Cholet, who predecease her. She graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1940 and St. Elizabeth†™s College, Morristown, New Jersey, where she majored in biology, in 1944. She supervised a product testing laboratory at Johnson and Johnson†™s headquarters, in New Brunswick, from 1944 to 1949. Jeanne married Carl J. Sauer, Jr. of Elizabeth, New Jersey, on September 25, 1948, at St. Patrick†™s Cathedral, The Lady Chapel, New York City. She lived for many years in Cranford, New Jersey, and moved her family to Colorado Springs in 1974. In high school, she organized a student protest against the administration, when they failed to honor a promise to build a new sports arena. This was the beginning of what would become a life-long commitment to civic and political action. In support of the United Farm Workers Union and its†™ founder, Cesar Chavez, Jeanne rallied her Cranford neighbors to first boycott grapes in 1965 and again in the early 1970†™s to boycott lettuce, by picketing the local grocery stores. Inspired by the non-violent philosophies of Chavez and Dr. Martin Luther King, she protested the Vietnam War, joining 200,000 demonstrators for the March on Washington. After Jeanne moved to Colorado Springs, she shifted her focus to environmental issues, justice and peace initiatives, nuclear non-proliferation and the rights of the poor, disadvantaged and the elderly. She worked for Planned Parenthood, attempting to bring comfort, along with knowledge, to the choices that women are often faced with, at difficult times in their lives. In 1979, she joined the Energy Resource Center, providing extensive information to the public about efficient and renewable energy options for homes. Jeanne explored alternative methods of construction, such as Earth Ships and Native American adobe and teepee dwellings for low environmental impact. Jeanne worked with the Senior Lobby and the Gray Panthers for the passage of legislation that currently regulates the operations and care requirements for elder care facilities. On April 28, 1979, she joined 15,000 demonstrators protesting the continued radioactive contamination of neighboring communities and the surrounding environment by the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. She helped organize the Encirclement of the Nevada Test Site on May 10, 1987, Mother†™s Day and was arrested by local authorities. There were 746 arrests that afternoon and Jeanne, along with actor Martin Sheen, was proud to have been one of them. Her activism related to these issues led her to Richard Skorman, owner of Poor Richard†™s and former member of the Colorado Springs City Counsel. Their common belief in liberal thought, peaceful protest and environmental justice found its expression in the creation of the U.S. Environmental Film Festival in 1990. Her family remembers the endless hours she spend watching the film entries, reviewing, cataloging and organizing them for the first festival of its kind. The Festival†™s films portrayed the intrinsic value and the beauty of the natural world and exposed the adverse environmental and negative social impact of industrial disregard and corporate greed. Along with films made, sponsored and endorsed by actors Dennis Weaver, Charles Haig and Mike Farrell, the film festival brought her again in contact with Cesar Chavez. Jeanne was honored to have him as a guest in her home and to call him friend. Her personal commitment to women†™s issues relating to war, the environment and reproductive choice, sent her to Helsinki, Finland, in 1995 as a delegate to the Women†™s International League for Peace and Freedom. Her efforts on behalf of all the organizations mentioned brought her great satisfaction over the years. But perhaps Jeanne†™s favorite †œjob†� was hosting the radio talk show †œCircle of Voices†� on KRCC, the Colorado College NPR affiliate. Seeking an audience and a venue to speak and ask her own questions, the show attracted guests from a broad range of social and political backgrounds, with no topic off limits. Those that Jeanne had worked with over the years often found themselves plucked to appear on the show, giving them a further opportunity to share their opinions with listeners. Jeanne didn†™t like to fly but that didn†™t keep her from traveling to Houston, Denver, New York City, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. At the age of 70, she added river rafting to her list of leisure time activities, through the river canyons of Colorado, Utah and Idaho. She loved to camp and hike with her family and only reluctantly gave up running rivers when she was 83. The people Jeanne met in her long life, recognized her as a genuine and honest spirit, giving of herself to the causes of humanity and opening herself to the suffering and needs of others. She sought to ease the pain of war and put a stop to actions that threatened the environment. Those who called her at home, leaving messages, knew that she ended her greeting with †œhelp bring peace to the environment, not violence, and take it one day at a time.†� It is hard for her large and extended family to believe that one such as she is gone from our presence. er strength came from a well spring of passion, commitment and exuberance for life. Her friends and family could look in her clear blue and determined eyes and know that they were in the company of an extraordinary woman. Jeanne wished for a better future for everyone, not only her children. She would want to remind us that it is never too late to speak up for and act on, what you believe in. It is never too late to start. Mommy, the world stopped for a moment when you left us behind. Rest in the peace you worked so hard for. Jeanne is survived by her beloved sister Blanche and brother-in-law, Ray Gandolf; her loving children: Barbara Joyce-Evans, Carl J. Sauer III, Lisa C. Sauer and husband Roger Passmore, all of Houston, TX. ; Mary K. Sauer of Denver, CO; Colleen J. Sauer and husband Roger Mueller of Austin, TX; Paul C. Sauer and wife Rebecca Sauer of Jonesboro, AK and Henry H. Sauer and wife Lezlie Sauer of Lakewood, CO. She was blessed with six grandchildren: Shannon, husband Gregory Smith, Rachel, husband Leo Storniolo, Katelyn, wife Bianca Marlin, Elizabeth, Adam and Hayden and one great granddaughter, Olivia. A large extended family of nieces, the Gandolfs and cousins, the Eckels, along with their spouses, children and grandchildren will miss her sweet presence and influence in their lives. The family would like to especially thank Sandy and Vic Ramsey who looked after, cared for and embraced Jeanne in the last years of her life. Their love, support and prayers made it possible for Jeanne to remain independent and in her own home much longer that we thought possible. For that we will ever be grateful. The funeral service for Jeanne will be on Saturday, May 18, 2013, beginning at 12 noon, in the Chapel of the Little Sisters of the Poor, 3629 W. 29th Ave, Denver, Co, 80211. The family would appreciate donations made in her honor, to the Little Sisters of the Poor. During her active life Jeanne believed and supported the positive work done by the following organizations: Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission; KRCC or your local NPR station; Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy. A monetary tribute in her honor would insure that their valuable work continues. If you would like, please send your comments and share your memories of Jeanne by sending Jeanne†™s son an email at [email protected]. Henry will compiled these and other remembrance of Jeanne and send them to Jeanne†™s children and grandchildren. We will read and cherishing your thoughts about Jeanne forever.