A ‘Shakespearean sprite’ and a ‘giant’: Remembering the lives of Jane Reeves, Marilyn Biggerstaff
They both came east, to Richmond and VCU, in the 1970s. They overlapped at the School of Social Work for approximately 23 years. In their final years, they both resided at the Cedarfield Retirement Community in Richmond.
And when they passed away earlier this year, only 29 days separated the deaths of Jane Reeves and Marilyn Biggerstaff, whose tenures at the School of Social Work touched four different decades and represented a combined 51 years of service.
Jane, the longtime B.S.W. Program director who worked at the school from 1978-2001, passed away Jan. 6. Marilyn, who served from 1977-2005 and retired as a full professor, passed away Feb. 4.
The two were members of “The Beach Group” and the “Ladies’ Aid Society,” made up of former women faculty from the school who regularly traveled to the Outer Banks and who, closer to home, celebrated each other’s promotions, retirements and birthdays.
“Jane and Marilyn’s passing reminds us that our school has been shaped by many remarkable individuals who came before us,” says Humberto Fabelo, Ph.D., associate professor, who joined the School of Social Work in 1995. “While it is always difficult to say goodbye, their lives invite us to pause and reflect with gratitude on how profoundly their contributions – and those of so many others over the school’s 109-year history – have brought us to where we are today.
“As current stewards of this community, we carry both the privilege and the responsibility of honoring Jane’s and Marilyn’s legacy. It is now our role to build upon their foundation, to care for and strengthen the school, and ultimately to pass it on to the next generation in as strong – or stronger – a condition than we received it.”
Jane earned her M.S.W. from Simmons College in Boston and moved to Virginia from Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1972 with her husband, Bill, and their children. She handled field placements for B.S.W. students before becoming the program’s director.
“On a personal level, both of these women were impactful in my own journey as an academic and especially as the B.S.W. Program director who followed in Jane’s shoes … she left such big shoes to fill I was never sure I’d measure up,” Fabelo says. “Jane was always a source of encouragement and celebrated all the accomplishments of the B.S.W. Program and especially our wonderful students, who were an inspiration to her and many others.”
Biggerstaff, a faculty emeritus with the school, earned her D.S.W. at the University of Southern California and moved to Richmond to start her career at VCU. She taught in both the M.S.W. and Ph.D. programs, served in leadership with national social work education organizations and was involved in international projects. In 2019, she made a gift to create the school’s Dr. Marilyn A. Biggerstaff Fund for Doctoral Student Research, an annual award that goes to a current Ph.D. student in the school.
Here are some additional recollections from current members of the VCU community and former colleagues:
Kristin Hopkins
M.S.W. admissions assistant and longtime SSW staff member
“Jane was literally like a ray of sunshine – she exuded such positivity and had eyes that literally twinkled (sometimes in a mischievous way)! She would enter and leave the shared Student Services office with a flourish. Even if you had missed seeing her, she left an electricity in the room that could be felt – you just knew she had been there even if you didn’t see her. With her short hair and twinkling eyes, she always reminded me of a Shakespearean sprite – always up to something, but full of goodness … you could feel it brewing beneath the surface.
“Marilyn was someone who could talk to anyone and would always make you feel at ease in an instant. She had such a quiet strength about her – bold in nature but so gentle in spirit. And she was so funny – not in an over-the-top kind of way, but just in a matter of fact kind of way. She would often stop into the office, just to say hello and see how we were doing. She saw everyone as individuals and never saw any division between roles and titles, faculty and staff, etc. The one thing that sticks out the most is her love for her dogs – she would often tell us stories about her dogs. I’m 99% sure she had a couple of West Highland White Terriers. Marilyn was genuine warmth and kindness.”
Bev Koerin
Faculty emeritus & 1974 M.S.W. graduate
“I have fond memories of going to the Outer Banks, N.C., with Jane, Marilyn and four other social work faculty friends for long weekends over 17 or so years. … I worked more closely with Jane as B.S.W. director and member of a university committee on undergraduate rules and regulations. She was a strong advocate for students in both of those roles. Jane and I co-authored a couple of articles about B.S.W. education and made presentations at two B.S.W. program directors’ conferences.”
F. Ellen Netting
Faculty emeritus
“After Marilyn retired, she joined a studio acrylic painting class with (former faculty member) Mary Katherine O’Connor and me. The three of us donated about 50 paintings to The Span Center (formerly Senior Connections). As a resident of Cedarfield, she hit the ground running in getting involved in their community, acting with Radio Players, crafting beautiful fused-glass pieces, painting acrylic landscapes, pressing flowers, and volunteering in the gift shop. She volunteered at The Span Center in multiple ways, donating both time and money.
“Jane was the B.S.W. Program director when I arrived at the School in 1993. She was one of the most elegant and kind persons one could ever meet. Because I was doing B.S.W. advising, she was always available whenever I needed help. She, too, moved to Cedarfield and became a welcomed part of that community.”
Sarah Kye Price
Vocations minister for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia; former faculty member and associate dean
“I would like to share the joy that I had in sharing a connection with Jane Reeves, even though we didn’t work together at the School of Social Work at the same time. She reached out to me during my own transition from the school and into full-time ministry as an Episcopal priest. Jane was married to an Episcopal priest and saw immediately the connections between the roles both for promoting healthy systems of care and providing for the biopsychosocial well-being of those with whom we are changed to care. It was lovely to feel ‘seen’” by someone who could appreciate both roles. I value her connection with me through that shared understanding of vocation.”
Mary Riddick
Senior director of medical philanthropy and alumni relations, VCU; former SSW development director
“There is so much that could be said about Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff, but it all comes down to this: She lived a life of profound intention. She loved fiercely, fought on the frontlines for those without a voice and remained unshakable in her commitments, no matter the cost. While I will cherish our talks, I will most of all remember the example of the life she lived.”
James Romanik
Executive director of development, VCU College of Humanities & Sciences; former SSW development director
“Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff was a giant. As a social worker and leader, she was passionately committed to her community and those whom she served. She was a tireless advocate and always refocused efforts to center mission. As a person, she was kind and funny with a profound generosity of spirit. I will miss her wit, her smile and her unfailing ability to call things exactly as she saw them.”
“Jane Reeves will be sorely missed. She had a deep love for her family and friends and an abiding commitment to her community. Jane gave years of service to the School of Social Work and forged the B.S.W. Program into the pillar it is today. She didn’t seek recognition – only the knowledge that her work touched the lives of countless students across the years. Her passing is a loss for everyone who knew her.”
Amy Strite
President & CEO, Span Center, & 1990 M.S.W. graduate
“With deep gratitude, we remember Dr. Marilyn Biggerstaff and the many ways she strengthened The Span Center. Marilyn invested generously in the people of The Span Center through her philanthropic giving, the art she so freely shared, and the time she gave as a volunteer. She also gave of her wisdom, personally teaching and guiding leadership development through education and training that enriched both staff and the organization.
“In many ways, Marilyn served as a thoughtful and strategic voice, encouraging reflection, growth, and strong leadership. We are, without question, a stronger organization because of her generosity, her teaching and her belief in our work. While we mourn her death, we remain profoundly grateful for the legacy she leaves behind.”
Categories Community, Faculty and staff