Jeanne Toombs

Jeanne Toombs, age 60 of Concord, Massachusetts, died on Monday, March 31, at Emerson Hospital of complications from pneumonia.

Born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1948, Jeanne was the daughter of the late Ernest and Agnes Toombs. She was graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School in 1966. She received her undergraduate degree from Hobart & William Smith College in Geneva, NY and a masters degree in Music Education from University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.

Jeanne loved music. While growing up in Concord, Jeanne organized carol singing at Christmastime with her sisters, Linda and Nancy, and neighborhood children, a tradition that continued for many years. After teaching music for several years at Douglas Elementary School in Acton, Jeanne returned to Concord to open her own piano teaching studio. Over the past thirty years Jeanne has touched many lives in the community, sharing her love of music with over five hundred local children and adults.

Jeanne was very active in the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. As a member of the Board of Directors she participated in conventions, marches, and rallies. She recently testified before the Massachusetts State House to advance a new bill, MA H.1844, which will add height and weight to the anti-discrimination law.

Throughout her life, Jeanne was an avid traveler. Jeanne has crossed the world many times, from childhood road trips driving across the country, to vacations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, England, Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, and, most of all, Paris, France.

Jeanne will be greatly missed by her sister Linda Hossfeld and her husband Roderick Hossfeld of Concord, MA, sister Nancy Beach of Lunenburg, MA, nephew Christopher Hossfeld and his husband Zhiming Chen of Montreal, Canada, niece Kimberley Beach and her fianc� Josh Flint of Fitchburg, MA, and niece Emily Hossfeld of Somerville, MA.