Jane Dillon Hennessy Wintz, dedicated mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, director, choreographer, producer, dance teacher, Girl Scout leader and mentor, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at her home in Hilton Head, SC with her biggest fan, Stage Door Johnny and boyfriend of 70 years at her side.

Jane (known as Muzzy to her family and friends), was born in Doylestown, PA on July 16, 1934, to Dorothy and Doon Hennessy. She excelled in sports and dance and, at the age of 18, moved to New York City to make her mark on the Broadway stage.  She moved into the iconic Rehearsal Club Boarding House in Manhattan, a safe haven for young women embarking on performing arts careers in NYC.  Residents included the likes of Carol Burnett, Blythe Danner, Sandy Duncan, Kim Catrell and Diane Keaton.  Jane performed in numerous shows on the great white way, including Can Can, Brigadoon, The Pajama Game, Kiss Me Kate, Silk Stockings, The Boyfriend and Wish You Were Here.  There she met and fell in love with Bob Wintz.  They married in 1956, and Jane’s energies were quickly turned to producing and raising a family of four in Morristown, NJ before moving to Hilton Head Island in the ‘90’s.

Jane gave generously of her time, first as a Girl Scout leader, then dance teacher and swim coach.  In 1972 she was “drafted” as a choreographer for Morristown High School’s Spring Musical, The Pajama Game.  This began a 17-year run where Jane directed, choreographed, and produced 16 shows for Morristown High School. She then founded and ran the Morristown Recreation Summer Theater Program for a decade, attracting some of the best high school and college performers from across the region.  She shared her talents and time without compensation and built a theater program in Morristown the likes of which high school and community theater had not previously seen.  Jane broke many barriers including:

1.     Leading the first integrated Girl Scout troop in NJ,

2.     Recruiting Morristown High wrestlers and football players to join the musical by showing the coaches how her rigorous pre-rehearsal dance warm-ups would improve their flexibility, agility, footwork and performance,

3.     Double casting musicals which allowed twice the number of students to have their chance to shine,

4.     Casting inter-racial romantic leads in the mid 70’s at a time when things like that just weren’t done,

5.     Providing free dance classes to Morristown students interested in raising their own bar,

but most importantly,

6.     Providing a safe and caring space for students to belong, be accepted and build self-esteem with life skills and outlooks that transcend the stage.

Jane’s impact on the thousands of actors, dancers, singers, musicians, stage crew, and parents (who often pitched in) cannot be overstated.  Notes of gratitude and love shared by those she touched universally refer to her example of work ethic, commitment, kindness and compassion as being a critical part of their life roadmap.

Jane not only built a tradition of excellence in performance, but she and Bob, married 69 years, built a large and adoring family including 4 children- Jami McKeon Hollway (John), Bonnie Boroian, Doon Wintz (Nancy) and Julie Ballestero (Mark), 16 grandchildren- Jake McKeon (Heather), Samantha Jane McKeon Goldmann (Jon), Payton Hollway, MJ Hollway, Hillary Jane Boroian Ghent (Greg), Brittany Boroian Srinath (Vinay), Donner Boroian (Claire), Siobhan Boroian, Kate Boroian, Dillon Wintz (Sarah), Liam Wintz, Finn Hennessy Wintz, Phoebe Wintz, Mitch Ballestero (Emma), Maddie Ballestero, Tate Ballestero and 9 (and counting) great-grandchildren- Beau, Doc, Welles and Darby McKeon, Miles Hennessy Goldmann,  Caroline and Ben Ghent, and Blake and Colin Boroian.

Information on a memorial event to be planned for a later date and memorial donation opportunities will be shared when finalized.  Those who are eager to honor Jane’s memory before then can do so in one of many ways that would be especially meaningful to Jane—read a book, go see a musical, hug your family or, better yet, perform a kindness for someone else.