Jean Schuh

                                                               Jean Louise (Swivel) Schuh

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey on April 30, 1936, Jean Louise Swivel moved with her parents to St. Petersburg in 1951. As a new retiree, her father's other retirement choice was Roswell, New Mexico. Her father and mother, Harry Weber and May Swivel, made the right decision. While at St. Petersburg High School, Jean met her future husband, Charles Edward Schuh. Although she admired Charlie for three years, it wasn't until they both attended St. Petersburg Junior College that he asked her out. After dating for less than three years, they were married in 1957 at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. After graduating from SPJC as Salutatorian, Jean enrolled at The University of Florida, and completed her Junior year and one semester of her Senior Year. Her studies were interrupted by her husband's three-year commitment to the U. S. Navy as a Radar Picket officer on the USS David O. Sellstrom out of Newport, RI. After his three-year tour of duty, they moved back to Gainesville where Jean graduated from UF with a Bachelor of Arts Degree cum laude in the college of Arts and Sciences and a membership in Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. She received a Fellowship to study medieval literature at UF, and two years later earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree cum laude. For several years, she taught Creative Writing at St. Petersburg Junior College, followed by 20+ years employed by Florida Progress Subsidiaries Florida Power Company and Electric Fuels Corporation, from which she retired in 2001.

For over fifty years, Jean delighted playgoers with her St. Petersburg Little Theatre comic portrayals of characters in such shows as Steel Magnolias, Blithe Spirit, Deathtrap, Dracula, Social Security, Rumors, and Barefoot in the Park, among many others. Her greatest theatrical joy was knowing that she brought laughter and good feelings to her audiences. Many of these shows won acting awards of which she was very proud. She owes special thanks to Charlie who made it possible for her to pursue her acting career by happily taking charge of their two young daughters when needed.

In addition to her acting career, Jean was an experienced seamstress, and made many of her costumes as well as the special outfits and evening gowns needed to accompany her husband, Mayor Charles E. Schuh, who predeceased her in 2009.

Jean credits a happy and healthy life surrounded by a loving family and friends for her longevity. She is survived by daughter Diana Elizabeth Schuh, daughter Laura Louise (Schuh) Riiska and son-in-law Dana Alan Riiska; grandchildren Harry William Osborne Kinnard IV, Rachel Kathryn Riiska, and Andrew Charles David Riiska; and several cousins including Thomas Swivel and Richard Swivel. Also surviving are many dear friends including Susan Gill, Lorna Shea, and The Tampa Bay Divine Goddess Reading Club.

Jean died at home at age 89 on the 21st of May. A Private gathering will be scheduled later. If you wish, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society or to Hospice.