Gift of a Lifetime -- Jan Butsch

Gift of a Lifetime

Jan Butsch

She inspired fellow editors and writers during seven years
of superb service at Schroder Publishing

This photo graced Jan's "Parenting" column for many of the seven years it appeared in the newspapers. She was honored four times for her humor by the Society of Professional Journalists.

When Jan Butsch resigned her position at Schroder Publishing in February 2002, her associates watched more than just an award-winning writer and editor walk out the door. Many were sad to see the end of an era involving their friend, mentor and role model.

"I loved working with Jan," said designer Elizabeth Holmes. "She always made me laugh about something every day — she also inspired me with her ability to juggle being such a wonderful and dedicated parent to her children while also being editor of the papers."

Managing Editor Jesse Pompei also worked every day with Jan. For her, the timing was perfect. "Jan and I met at an extremely important time in my life. She was there to offer support both in my job and on a personal level. I continually learned from her and was so happy to have her for that time."

Sherwood Quantz Cobb remembers working side by side with Jan in the early years of the company. "Three things I appreciated most about working with Jan: First, her ability to remain calm and composed during the most hectic deadline pressure. No matter what, Jan always kept her cool. Second, her great way with people. She always knew just what to say and how to handle any situation. And she kept her sense of humor throughout! And finally, the way she managed to juggle work and family, seemingly effortlessly! Now that I have my own child, I realize what a feat this truly is."

Over the years, Jan talked with and influenced hundreds of writers. Though they didn't work with her in the office day by day, she touched each one in different, yet significant ways.

"I first met Jan over a $1.99 breakfast at Bobby & June's," remembers writer Tom Bell. "In her e-mailed invitation, Jan had described the restaurant as a place with 'great grits, yummy biscuits and waitresses with mile-high hair who call you honey.' I knew right away we were going to get along just fine.

"Humorists have a reputation for being tortured souls, their jokes a desperate defense against despair," Tom continued. "But Jan's humor doesn't seem to come from pathos. I think it is, instead, the soda pop explosion of the delight she takes in living. Though she writes hilariously of human frailties and contradictions, underneath it all there is an avowal — unspoken, yet unabashed — that the world's foundation is fundamentally sound and that life is precious and merry. Reading her work or talking with her over biscuits (or our more recent "burritos bigger than your head"), I find myself believing in the inevitability of success and the joy of every moment along the way."

Catherine said "I know perfectly well how I was taught to 'write like that' — by my mother."

Writer Courtney Barnes also remembers the first time she contacted Jan. "I received a fast, positive reply and over the two years that followed she offered me encouragement and ever-expanding professional opportunities. In the beginning the opportunities may have seemed like small things, but they actually turned out to be steps on the path to a better place. So, Jan Butsch is on the list of people who truly made a difference in my life."

Those columnists who worked with Jan for seven years remember her most fondly.

Music columnist Charles Driebe said, "Jan was a wonderful editor and is an even better person. I will still call her (at least) every month even though I don't have a deadline with her anymore just to be able to hear her wit and wisdom!"

Sprituality columnist Van Waddy said, "I admired Jan's ability to tolerate the wildness, the unfinished, the imperfect part of our writing. She was thus able to encourage and promote something in us while it was yet emerging, fresh, unknown even to us. I think that is what makes her so creative herself."

Publisher Chris Schroder remembers Jan as "the person I looked to for inspiration, motivation and enthusiasm. If I had trouble with an idea, she solved it. If I needed advice on how to handle the company, she provided it. My decisions were always better if Jan was involved in them. In 20 years of management, she is the only person I ever supervised that I never needed to check back with if I asked her to do something. She was incredibly trustworthy and responsible. She was much more than a writer and editor. She was a confidante and a best friend."

Jan with the other managers at Schroder Publishing, from left, Robin Marcus, Chris Schroder, Jan and Wendy Binns.

The columnist upon whom Jan had the greatest impact was her own daughter, Catherine. "People used to come up to me and say how good my columns were and how my mother was an excellent writer and how the talent must run in the family. Personally, I believe it does. I don't think I was born with it. I believe I acquired my mother's talent (or at least a little portion of it) through her.

"She has never been one of those mothers who chides you for reading under your covers with a flashlight late into the night. I think she has discovered the frequency of my doing this and all the same, she lets me, knowing that the good that comes of absorbing literature will outweigh having circles under my eyes the next morning," she said.

"I couldn't pinpoint the date when I first began to write, but I do recall a great passion of striving for literary greatness when I was in the fourth grade. My teacher, Mrs. Johnson, told me that with some work I could achieve the top grade. All year my mother encouraged me, offering suggestions and jumping at the chance to type anything I might write. Well, the happy end came — through my writing and my mother's encouragement.

"Even now, she picks contests out for me and says 'I'm sure you could win this if you wanted to enter' and tries to feign a smile of surprise when I come home with news of another teacher reading my essay for the class. When my classmates find out that I am the author, they ask with awe 'How do you write like that?' I just smile and say I don't know, which is a fib. I know perfectly well how I was taught to 'write like that' — by my mother."

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Gift of a Lifetime is a division of Schroder Media LLC