Meet Your Neighbor
Jean Duarte
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
The smell of popcorn still lingered in the air at Jean Duarte's house Friday afternoon, a reminder of her grandchildren's visit the night before. Spending time with her granddaughter Kezia, 10, and grandson Darian, five, is Duarte's favorite pastime, but otherwise this is one lady who does not let the grass grow under her feet and is either working or volunteering in some way on a constant schedule.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

Duarte was born and raised in Eden, N.C. While in high school and during college she came to Nantucket to work in the summers to save money for her education. She attended North Carolina State University studying sociology and psychology, but as it turned out she has an aptitude for number crunching.

While working summers on the island, Duarte met her late husband Jimmy, an island native and talented musician, and after the couple wed in September 1959 she decided to move here to live. "It seemed so remote; not being able to get anywhere," she said of her initial reaction to Nantucket. But though the pair were happy they were separated shortly after their marriage when Jim Duarte was drafted into the Army in December 1959 for a threeyear stint.

Jean stayed here and began setting up their house; worked as a nurse's aide at Our Island Home and had a part-time job at Holdgate's Laundry to make ends meet. After her husband returned home, in 1966 they welcomed their son Dominic into their lives and Jean became a stay-at-home mom while he was tiny. When he was in elementary school she volunteered as a playground supervisor. When he was in middle school she became employed in that school's cafeteria.

Duarte's joined Nantucket Bank's accounting department where she stayed for 10 years before transferring to the same line of responsibilities at Pacific National Bank for another 20 years. While at Pacific Bank, she attended the School of Financial Studies at Babson College. She "sort of" retired in 1999, definitely from the banking world, but not much else.

"I tried to retire but it was just too boring, so I've been doing bookkeeping for a couple of businesses parttime," she explained. "I only work parttime so I'm available to be with my grandchildren whenever I want. Sometimes we have sleepovers, which I love, or campovers with sleeping bags on the floor."

Beyond her paying jobs, Duarte has been active as a community volunteer for many years, calling herself a "volunteer nut." She was treasurer for The Booster's Club for 15 years, assisted with Cub Scouts when her son was young and was on the Little League board and served as a chaperone when the island's league began. Duarte has also volunteered at the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, was on the steering committee to raise funds for renovation of the African Meeting House and was on the board of A Safe Place for 12 years and continues to volunteeer when they ask.

She also volunteers for Big Brothers/Big Sisters to help with fundraisers and assists with fundraising activities for the Nantucket Aids Network. She is very involved with St. Mary's Church, and helps indoctrinate new adult members as well as serving as a Eucharistic Minister assisting with Masses.

"I have to be busy," said Duarte.

When not involved with her grandchildren or community participation, Duarte likes to spend time with friends, read (she has three books going at once right now) and walk, hopefully ending up at a beach because she said "There is nothing more beautiful and calming than the ocean." And while she walks she wears a headphone to listen to music. Duarte loves jazz, classical, rock and roll and gospel, and said you can probably tell what she is listening to when you see her gait.

"And when nobody's in the house I sing at the top of my lungs," she said, laughing.

Jean and Jimmy used to travel a lot and, if and when she has more free time, she would like to do more exploring, especially to visit Spain and Italy as well as the western United States. If that does not happen, she will be content with her family and all else she does that fills her days and evenings.

"Most days I have something," she

said. "I've always been that way." I