I met Janet on my TM Teacher Training Course, in June of 1974, in Livigno, Italy. I was 18, and Janet seemed always kind and mature, and older than me! She was there with her sister, Gerri.  Early on in the course, I heard Janet talking excitedly to the Podolls, and to Samantha Wallace (then, Jones), about their children. A very young Josh Podoll was already there, in Livigno, and Eden too.  Janet hadn’t realized it was permissible to bring a child. She seemingly immediately sent for her son, Chris, and he came and joined the course too.  

I remember the first day Chris arrived.  He was so glad to be there with his mom. She sat him down at a table with her, during the lecture. He was about 5 years old. She must have calmly asked him to be still, or quiet, because I saw him fold over and sort of buckle. Then they left the room, and after that, I didn’t notice him coming to the lessons anymore. There was a lady who was helping with all the children, and no doubt helped with Chris too. Surely Janet’s sister helped a lot, too.  

In 1977, I joined the CEG, Council of Executive Governors, who Maharishi had asked to help run the university.  Janet and her sister were there at MIU then, too.

Around 1985, I moved with my family to Fairfield. Janet was there then too! I remember once, when my husband Bryan was playing drums with his band on campus for some occasion, Janet and her husband Ira, were dancing to the band. Afterwards, Janet asked me if I had taken any photos of her and Ira dancing. I wish I had!

PATTY MILLER HANCOCK, Friend

It was at least thirty years ago when I first met Janet, through Gerry in the version of Anna Purna which no longer exists. Those sisters were like butterflies, but Janet was also like a juggler…  always trying to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Sometimes she succeeded, other times she didn’t, but her momentum, her force, was often nearly unstoppable.  Always cheerful and often chattering away while doing several things simultaneously, she was also adept at actively listening.  Sometimes it seemed she couldn’t possibly be following the conversation because of how busy she was, but then the spot on comment or question would pop out of her mouth. 

Janet’s burdens have been heavy. She seldom let the strain show and it never dulled her compassion and willingness to help another, oftentimes no matter the cost to her own situation or health, as I’m sure many can attest to.  Over the years, many of our conversations were long and sobering, but as soon as the topic passed, she was back with her smile, her light as wide as the sky.  She was unstoppable.

There is one occasion I want to illuminate to others about the Janet I knew and how much she means to me.  Late one afternoon sixteen years ago, Janet, Gerry and I decided to go on a jaunt and had to take my infant grandson with us since I had custody of him.  We drove till we found the “right ” spot and parked on a gravel road a few miles outside of Fairfield at dusk, on what was supposed to be an especially spectacular August night to watch the Perseids meteor showers.  We pulled out lawn chairs, drinks, snacks, jackets, and everything the baby needed.  As we waited for it to get dark enough, the three of us talked and laughed as people that know each other well do. Janet and I took turns holding my seven month old grandson.  She told me how much she missed her son and how she wished he could become small again for a few minutes so she could hold him again just like she was my little guy.  

After an hour or so Gerry tired, climbed in the car and fell asleep before the first meteor fell. My grandson was perfect that night.  When he stirred, we took care of his needs and back to sleep he went.  The two of us leaned back and all night long we talked and laughed, poured out our hearts and cried, cheered each other on, danced a little and once in a while laughed ourselves silly.  And…  we saw falling stars.  Hundreds of them! We were like little girls when several meteors fell simultaneously or close together.  We became sisters of the heart that night.  It was wonderful.  Magical. 

AIDEEN VEGA-VAN AUKEN, Friend

I met Janet in the Fall of 1977 after I moved to Palo Alto from MIU after taking the TM-Sidhi advanced course. I wanted to be a part of the Palo Alto TM Center and some of the innovative courses that Maharishi was asking us to teach. One week after I arrived, I was in an accident. Janet, having met me at the TM Center only a week before, immediately invited me to stay with her, her sister Gerry and son Chris, and acted in her starring role as a nurse and mother to encourage me back to health.

We got along quite well, and I enjoyed everyone’s company. I got to see how Janet had great organizing power, and was constantly optimistic. Soon, in 1978, the Ideal Society Campaign project was happening in the State of Washington. Both Janet and I volunteered to go to Washington, with Chris. In Seattle we formed teams, and she and I naturally continued to be on a team together, as we were comfortable. We also were joined by Rachele Sosna Shaw and Heidi Jo Salmonson.

You can see in the pictures attached, our team, with a few other members, Susan Neidenbach and Betty Kruegger who joined later. We went to Sakgit Valley, the town of Mt. Vernon, which was not too far from the Canadian border and stayed in a house owned by Steve McClaskey, who was at MIU at the time. Again and again, Janet impressed me with her generosity toward everyone, her natural good humor, and her ability to get things done. Even when her car irretrievably stalled one day, she just saw what needed to be done, rather than feeling unhappy about what happened. One time we were asked to create a seasonal celebration. We got on a Ferry with a cake, going to one of the islands, stood in the front, and lit lights for the peace and prosperity of everyone. Janet carried that off with such charm that everyone on the Ferry was happy to participate and have a slice of cake!  Attached are a few pictures of that time, and a news clipping when we were interviewed by one of the local newspapers. I attribute the harmony of the team to Janet’s ability to find common ground with everyone. 

With love and the most fond memories of Janet, both then, and all through the years at the MIU Ladies Dome.

RACHEL GOODMAN, Friend

Janet was a force to be reckoned with, and as forces go, she was a contender. When in search of employment, I was delighted when she hired me to clean and declutter her home. Despite Janet’s sheer delight in any headway I made – try, as I might, I could never get it as clean as I wanted. 

We were 2 partners going to the Devi Temple for any Yagya, puja, or festival they hosted. I truly felt fortunate to receive a ride from her to these events. I really appreciated her effort to be punctual to pick me up in a timely way so we would be there on time to receive the pundit’s blessing. 

I respected that she had convictions and wasn’t afraid to hold to them.

She once recounted to me an amazing story about an exchange that she had with John Hagelin in his home some 30 years ago. If John is here, he should definitely share it – no pressure, John. 

Janet often liked to give me hand-me-downs as we decluttered her home, and swore the two costume jewelry pieces she gave me – one a ring and the other a broach – were true, real, Jyotish gemstones. I commented that couldn’t be true since the stones had a lot of scratch marks on them and were fading in color. None the less, I appreciated the thought. 

Janet took me to Everybody’s when I needed to go, and I’d bring her homemade banana bread and other treats. We both felt like we got the better end of the deal.

All in all, I only knew Janet for a few years, being new to the community. To sum things up, there is an expression that goes: Many are called and few are chosen. Janet was definitely chosen.

LEAH COLLMER, Friend

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