Jessie Rodrique, age 66 of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, at Care Dimensions Hospice in Lincoln, MA, following a brave battle with cancer.

Born July 16, 1959, in Shirley, Massachusetts. She grew up in Auburn, MA, graduating from Auburn High School in in 1977.

Jessie’s natural intelligence and propensity for learning blossomed into a distinguished academic career. After graduating magna cum laude from Assumption College with a B.A. in history and sociology, she enrolled at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she earned her Ph.D. in American History.

The breadth of her education, combined with her avid curiosity, led to a lifelong career in the advancement of the humanities. Whether editing the letters and diplomatic correspondence of John and Abigail Adams at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, or working at the Smithsonian Museum to archive the lives and work of fifty jazz legends of America’s Swing era, or penning scholarly publications on social history, African-American History or women’s struggle for equality, Jessie’s agile mind was always engaged and prodigiously productive.

In her role as Director of Programs and Community Engagement for Newbury Court Senior Living in Concord, MA, and later as Curator of Cultural Experiences for North Hill Senior Living in Needham, MA, she designed and curated art exhibitions, events, and learning opportunities equal to the intellectual stature and cultural literacy of the residents she served.

Predeceased by her parents, Judith and George Rodrique, Sr, Jessie is survived by her beloved brother George A. Rodrique Jr. and his wife Mizuho Minegishi of Stamford, CT; her sister Cathleen Crucius of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and her closest and most cherished friends Annie Walker Merry of Eastport, Maine, Beth Winn of Concord, MA, and countless others.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Jessie on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 11:00 am in the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA.

Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com