By Senator Jennie Forehand (D-17).
Jean Cryor was a rare combination, professional and studious, together with a great sense of humor and an ability to walk in other people’s shoes. Her life experiences gave her a positive and common sense approach to public policy which made her very effective as a legislator. Whether it was fighting for transportation or ensuring that our State funded education and kept college affordable for our kids, she was a great contributor to our lives in Montgomery County and the State.
As a member of the Maryland Commission for Women and the Board of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, she served as a valuable member and her influence will be obvious when the Center opens to the public.
Jean and I had served as Presidents of the Maryland’s Women’s Caucus at different times, and we worked closely on many issues. I will miss our midnight telephone “visits” when we talked about our grandchildren or solved problems in very innovative ways. During our last “visit,” she never mentioned her illness, but she gave me a list of her friends and of things she wanted me to do prior to my next year’s re-election campaign. She will be remembered as an outstanding public servant and a model of civility and kindness.
Senator Forehand and Delegate Cryor served in the General Assembly together from January 1995 through January 2007.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Senator Jennie Forehand Pays Tribute to Jean Cryor
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Remembering Jean Cryor
By Cheryl Kagan.
Tomorrow, Jean Cryor will be laid to rest. She was my friend, former House colleague, and co-teacher at Montgomery College. As the community prepares to pay its respects to this tremendous woman, I thought I’d share my thoughts.
She was respected and liked by virtually everyone who ever knew her or knew her work.
She was a ferociously devoted mother and grandmother, perpetually bragging about her family.
She was thoughtful, always writing personal notes to friends and constituents.
She was wise, with an ability to see beyond party lines and beyond geographic borders.
She was elegant, always looking like the ‘grande dame’ that she was.
She was funny, with almost a schoolgirl’s ability to giggle and share stories.
She was really smart, understanding the fiscal implications of proposed policies intuitively.
She was not a techie, although I think she loved relying on her daughters and others for assistance.
She was a gracious host. When I went to her home to work with her on our syllabus for Montgomery College, she had prepared a lovely platter of fruit, cheese, and crackers. It looked like she was expecting fancy company… rather than just me!
Jean and I used to joke that we were co-chairs of the “Thinkers’ Caucus.” There was a Women’s Caucus, a Sportsman’s Caucus, a Rural Caucus, a Black Caucus, and many other demographic or geographic groupings. Jean and I were two legislators who were comfortable working with (and voting with) colleagues from the other party. We based our votes on what made sense to us, not on parties or polls. Jean often commented that rather than meeting in a large committee room, our hypothetical “T.C.” would likely convene in a telephone booth!
It could be frustrating to talk to Jean. Because she worked so hard in each of her capacities (journalist, legislator, Planning Board member, etc.), she often assumed that everyone else had her level of knowledge. She’d be talking about a bill or proposed project as though we all knew the acronyms and details that she was immersed in. (Sorry, Jean, for ending this sentence with a preposition; the grammatically correct alternative sounded too stuffy!)
She was a devoted friend and neighbor. Among her cherished confidants was my beloved cousin, Elaine White, who died earlier this year. Jean was among the girlfriends who visited regularly at the hospital during Elaine’s long illness.
In the days immediately following Jean’s death, I called a number of current and former members of the House of Delegates and asked them what words first came to mind when they thought about our late colleague, Jean Cryor. The answers I got included:
• Funny
• Classy
• Very Smart
• Independent
• Fair
• Decent
• Rational
• Polite
• Savvy
• Principled
• Nice
• Thoughtful
• A Uniter
• Devoted to Public Service
• Gentle…but Strong, and
• Remarkable.
I think that captures our friend Jean.
Cheryl Kagan served with Jean Cryor in the House of Delegates from 1995 through 2003.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Funeral Arrangements for Jean Cryor
TO: All Members of the Maryland General Assembly
FROM: The Chief Clerk’s Office
RE: Death of Former Delegate Jean B. Cryor
DATE: November 4, 2009
It is with deep regret that we inform you that former Delegate Jean B. Cryor passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2009. She served in the House of Delegates representing District 15, Montgomery County, from January 1995 until January 2007.
Funeral Arrangements are:
Monday, November 9th 11:00 am
St. Raphael’s Catholic Church
1513 Dunster Road
Rockville, MD 20854
A Reception will follow the Funeral at Normandie Farm, 10710 Falls Road from 1-3 pm
Memorial gifts may be made to the
Society of the Sacred Heart Retirement Fund
4389 West Pine Boulevard
St. Louis, MO. 63108
Condolences can be sent to:
Ms. Deirdre Cryor
11700 Ambleside Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
Friday, November 06, 2009
A Tribute to The Honorable Jean Cryor (1938-2009)
By Delegate Bill Bronrott (D-16).
The death of Jean Cryor is a very sad loss for everyone who knew her and for the community that she served so ably and honorably as a newspaper editor and a policymaker for two decades.
I had the good fortune of sitting next to Jean on the House Floor during her final four years in the General Assembly. In a line of work known for sharp elbows, long knives and ambitious climbers, Jean Cryor was widely admired as a class act, a decent human being, and a thoughtful legislator. She was all about grace, charm and wit, and had a grown-up's perspective about life and a wonderful sense of humor to go along with it.
During her last term, Jean was the only Republican in the 32-member Montgomery County Delegation. At times, she joked about her status as the “chair” of the county delegation’s “GOP Caucus” and its remarkable harmony under her leadership. In fact, Jean’s natural ability to analyze an issue on its own merit and reach across the aisle was proof that once in a while party labels really don't matter.
No matter how tense the moment or difficult the task facing us, Jean never lost her smile or generous spirit. Her words were measured, and when she spoke people listened. Jean also knew instinctively when less said was better. She also had a certain sparkle in her eye that could speak volumes without having to say a word.
Jean Cryor will be greatly missed, but how fortunate we were that this Philadelphia native made Montgomery County, Maryland, her home and professional passion.
May she rest in peace.
Bill Bronrott
House of Delegates
District 16, Bethesda
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Delegate Kathleen Dumais on Jean Cryor
By Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15).
Maryland lost an elegant and effective Stateswoman with the passing of Jean Cryor on Tuesday. I lost a very dear friend. Jean and I met on the campaign trail in 2002 when I first ran for the House of Delegates -- and we became companions in the legislature for the four years we served together. She was a wonderful mentor to me and an excellent role model. We shared the District 15 office suite and, since we were both workaholics, would often be in the office late in the evening after long committee hearings. It was wonderful to sit in her office and share my day with Jean on those evenings. We would commiserate about the legislative process, our respective parties, committees and politics in general -- local, state, and world. We confided in each other about personal and professional trials and tribulations -- and generally solved the world's problems (at least for that day). I knew she would always keep my confidence (and I hers). Between legislative sessions and after the 2006 election, we continued our friendship and regularly stayed in touch and had lunch at Hunters, one of her favorite local places.
Jean was emminently fair and kind. What was always most remarkable about her was how she personally took the time to respond to every E-mail, letter or phone call she received as a State representative. No issue or question from a constituent was too small or insignificant. When in Annapolis, one seldom saw Jean when she wasn't working on a stack of personal notes in response to contacts with her office. Jean's passion was education. She believed in her heart that providing a good education to all children was the key to a better life for the child and a better world for us all. She was loved and respected by Delegates and Senators from both parties. Her sharp intellect caught nuances in legislation and issues that were missed by many. Jean always listened and reviewed both sides of an issue and then voted her heart and her principles. Although all of us took "party line" votes on occasion, Jean never hesitated to vote her principle, regardless of how controversial. She did not speak on the floor of the House of Delegates often but, when she did, it was eloquent, pointed and passionate -- and the entire chamber listened.
But, as indicated by so many others over the past few days, her legacy is much broader than her legislative experience. She overcame adversity and excelled professionally and personally during a time when the role of women in society was in flux and changing. Jean will be remembered as a trail blazer --- though she blazed the trail in a quiet, gracious and persistent manner. Widowed at a young age and mother of three young girls, she worked and raised her children -- who, by the way, are each now competent, successful professionals in their own right. Her professional career is stellar and beyond compare --- journalist, publisher and editor, followed by her election to the State legislature and subsequent appointment to the Planning Board. Additionally, throughout her life she served on multiple non-profit boards and a myriad of committees -- she gave her time freely and unselfishly to any number of good causes. Jean made a difference while she was here; she is an inspiration.
What those of us that knew her will miss the most is her friendship -- her kindness, her intelligence, her wonderful sense of humor, her laughter and the shoulder she offered when needed. With all of the above said, however, what was always most important to Jean was her family. Nothing made her happier than her daughters and their families -- she was a devoted grandmother. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time and I hope they know how much Jean was admired, respected and loved.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Nancy Floreen on Jean Cryor
Council Member Nancy Floreen sent us these comments about former Delegate Jean Cryor, who passed away yesterday.
The thing about Jean Cryor. She twinkled. She epitomized Maya Angelou’s memorable observation “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Jean Cryor made people feel good about themselves. Who cared what party Jean belonged to - with the possible exception of Craig Rice? Buoyed by her years as a reporter, and as a member of the General Assembly, Jean knew how to really listen. And she had the rare skill of conveying to others that she valued what they had to say. She could sense the tension in a room and break it with a smile and a thoughtful question. She could look you in your eye, pleasantly explain why you why you were wrong, and you didn’t mind. She conveyed an inner strength, an absence of ego, a genuine interest, a spirit of problem solving that was infectious. Was it that smile? The lilt in her voice? Her grasp of information and issues that she didn’t let intrude on her tremendous ability to truly connect? Jean was the sum of her wonderful parts and I am so sorry I didn’t tell her this myself. Sleep well, my friend. And let us all remember to tell our friends why we love them. Before they die.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Former Delegate Jean Cryor Passes Away
Former Delegate Jean Cryor (D-15), who later became a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board, has passed away at the age of 70. Cryor served three terms in the House starting in 1994 and was the only Republican Delegate from Montgomery County in her last four years. Craig Rice edged her by 152 votes in 2006. Cryor was respected by legislators from both parties and even appeared on the Apple Ballot. Following is a statement from County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council President Phil Andrews.
For Immediate Release: November 3, 2009
Statement by County Executive Ike Leggett & County Council President Phil Andrews on the Passing of Jean Cryor
“Montgomery County has suffered a terrible loss.
“Jean Cryor served the people of the County in several capacities – as a local journalist, a State Delegate, and as a member of the County Planning Board. Her absence will be deeply felt in many ways and in many communities.
“We mourn her loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and her colleagues on the Planning Board.”
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