Jean King Shope

Jean King Shope passed away peacefully on November 1, 2021, a few weeks after celebrating her 91st birthday. She was born on October 15, 1930. Growing up in Radburn, New Jersey, Jean was an accomplished gymnast and musician. She played trombone in her high school band and marching band, and attended the Interlochen National Music Camp. In 1951 she received her Associates Degree and RN Certificate from Columbia-Presbyterian School of Nursing. While working at Columbia-Presbyterian, she met Robert Waldo King, Jr. whom she married in 1952. They settled in Port Washington where she enjoyed being a full-time mother to their three children, Margie, Edie and Robby. Jean and Robin were active in the Plandome Unitarian Universalist Society where Jean continued her love of music by singing in the choir. She also enjoyed being an active member of the Port Washington Estates Association.

Widowed in 1972, Jean returned to nursing, first working on the floor and then as an ER nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY. In 1976 she married Roger H. Shope, and the new couple became active members of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club. Jean relished her role as Commodore's wife and she and Roger shared many adventures on their 42-foot Bruno-Stillman lobster boat, Resolute, which often served as race committee boat for major regattas on the Sound. Those were some of the happiest times in her life.

Challenged by progressive MS for over 40 years, she remained active, riding her scooter to the PWEA beach, around town, and to MBYC for her bridge groups. She had a sharp wit and wicked sense of humor and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Karl Duerr; husbands, Robert King, Jr and Roger Shope, and her son, Robert W. King, III. She is survived by her two daughters, Margie and Edie; grandchildren, Blake, Joanna, Max and Alex; great grandson, Emerson; son-in-law, Glenn Patterson; step-grandchildren Lark, Katie; and Jesse, John-Cody, and Lucia; and step-great-grandchildren, Sean, William, Joshua, and Ian. She is also survived by her niece, Susan and nephews, Couper and Andrew, as well as grand-nephew, Reid and grand-niece, Addie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made, In honor of Jean King Shope, to the St. Francis Hospital Foundation, Attn: Development, 100 Port Washington Blvd, Roslyn, NY 11576, or online using this secure link: https://1150.thankyou4caring.org/.