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Obituary of Janet E. Tanis
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Janet E. Tanis was a teacher's teacher. A
graduate of the prestigious Douglass College of Rutgers University, Janet
could teach any subject to children of all age levels, from kindergarten to
graduate school, which she did in both New Jersey and Florida. She also
supervised teachers of public schools for a number of years before devoting
the last 25 years of her life to the Hibel Museum of Art, a non-profit,
public museum in Palm Beach County, Florida.
At the Hibel Museum, Janet held many
positions, including assistant director, director of education, director of
children's festivals, and organizer for the museum's Promenade Concert
Series. For many years, she gave classes to children and adults, both in the
museum and in many locations throughout south Florida.
For ten years, she organized the museum's
annual children's festival that brought the educational benefits of many
non-profit organizations to members of the community. She
organized the concert series for many years, bringing the best musical talent
to the public without charge. Janet also was an integral part of the success
of the museum's gift store, and she gave tours of the museum's art collections
to hundreds of people. Janet was also an integral
part of organizing many fundraising events for the benefit of the Hibel Museum
of Art.
While at the Hibel Museum, Janet authored a
book that broke ground in showing teachers and parents how to use the arts in
teaching school children about language, science, and mathematics. Janet also
was the museum's principal researcher on many subjects about art and about
Edna Hibel, the artist. In addition, she helped to organize many art
exhibitions, and prepared educational literature for the public concerning the
museum's exhibitions.
The staff and volunteers of the Hibel Museum
of Art have lost a good friend and tireless worker. Janet will sorely
be missed. Donations in her memory made be made to the Edna Hibel
Art Foundation for the Concert Fund.
Andy Plotkin, Ph.D., for the Hibel Museum of Art