Jan Haupt
April 18, 1933 — March 19, 2024
Jan Haupt’s signature warmth and true love for others were invaluable gifts to family and friends and provided brighten-your-day moments for unsuspecting strangers. With her uncanny ability to listen and uplift, she turned everyday encounters into shared human connections with compassion, kindness, and humor.
The longtime San Marino and Pasadena resident died peacefully on March 19 at the age of 88 years old, surrounded by her loving family.
Janet Bell Nelson was born to General Joseph and Gail Nelson on April 18, 1933, in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she spent her idyllic, Midwest youth enjoying horses, ice skating, and most prominently, music.
Following graduation from Murray High School, Jan ventured west to the University of Colorado where she joined the Alpha Phi Sorority, graduated with a dual degree in early childhood education and music, and accepted a teaching position in California.
After a chance encounter with Charley Haupt at Dayton’s Department Store in Minneapolis during the summer of 1958, the couple married the following year, moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and welcomed their three daughters.
Compliments of Charley’s career with Hart Schaffner Marx, the family embarked on a cross-country tour, moving to Dallas, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Atlanta, finally settling in San Marino in 1975.
Determined to establish roots despite little time between moves, Jan extended all her efforts to help the family acclimate through their countless activities, her willingness to be involved, and an uncanny knack for finding the friendliest neighborhoods.
The family joined the Episcopal Church in each new town and Jan’s beautiful voice could be heard in the choir every Sunday. Her keyboard skills were always at the center of any social gathering featuring a piano.
As a member of the Junior League, she became personally involved in her communities, transferring affiliation from city to city and crediting the group with providing rewarding hours of service and lifelong friendships.
Jan also greatly valued her volunteer time spent with the National Charity League, Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital, and Luminaires, supporting the Doheny Eye Institute.
Parallel passions for faith, music, and children met in perfect harmony when she began teaching 3-year-olds at St. Edmund’s Nursery School.
For 21 years, Jan sparked curiosity and the joy of learning in her precious students; remaining close with preschool families throughout her life and treasuring fellow teachers and staff members as dearest friends.
Throughout her retirement, she enjoyed countless European trips with trusted companions and birthday celebration travels with sister and best friend, Meredie, Jan’s three daughters and five nieces; a group that playfully referred to themselves as “Girls Gone Wild.”
She used photos from those travels as inspiration for her watercolor hobby and each spring, spent a painting week with her sorority sisters at picturesque California locations.
Though her talents were many, there was no job she excelled at more than in her role as “Nana” to her eight grandchildren.
Blessed by proximity, she and Charley proudly attended their many sporting competitions, school performances, birthday celebrations, and graduations.
The enduring joy of her life were these momentous events spent together, the quiet ones when she could share one-on-one time, and the annual San Clemente family vacation, the highlight of shared memories for Nana and her grandchildren.
Jan Haupt is survived by her devoted husband, Charley; loving daughters Julie Wofford (Mike), Meredie Heaton (Scott), Laurie Hopkins (Scot); beloved grandchildren Ashley, Tucker, Lindsay, Riley, Kenzie, Bryce, Matt and Shelby; and seven blessed great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on May 9, 2024, at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino, with reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, St. Edmund’s Nursery School, 1175 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino, CA 91108, or The Luminaires, 600 S. Orange Grove Blvd. No. 4, Pasadena, CA 91105 (in care of Judy Kloner).
