Jean Ellen Clark Marlow peacefully passed away Friday July 24, 2026 at her home in Ashburn, Virginia just 2 days shy of her 98th birthday. Throughout that day she had been surrounded by family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Michael Joseph Marlow. Jean leaves her daughter, Jean Antoinette Marlow (Jamie) Semler and her husband Doug Semler; her two grandchildren, Joey and Grace and her cat, Tigger.

Jean Ellen Clark was born July 26, 1928 on the family dining room table in Staten Island, New York as the famous Tunney/Heeney boxing match broadcast over their radio. She was one of two children born to Roosevelt Lesure Clark and Jean Antoinette Knevals Clark. She was an incredibly proud member of the Clark, Lesure, Roosevelt, Aspinwall and Crosby families. They were close and provided support to each other during difficult times. While not able to pursue it, Jean did carry on her Roosevelt cousins’ love and talent for the game of tennis.

Jean grew up on Staten Island where she attended Staten Island Academy. Summers were always fun and enjoyed away at the beach catching endless fluke and snapper in the Atlantic off the shore of Oak Beach, NY; Ocean City, MD or Cape Cod, MA. High School years were spent at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In 1949 she graduated from Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Jean was always skilled in art, drawing and creating, as evidenced by the multitude of charcoals, stills and pastels from her Bradford art classes. She attended The Columbia University School of Engineering and Architecture in 1955 until a family move to Washington DC. In Washington, Jean became an assistant to an art editor at The National Geographic Magazine, a position she much adored! One weekend when she reluctantly attended a Garden Party with her parents, she met Michael Joseph Marlow. It was love at first sight and smile and they wed in April of 1959. Their love for and devotion to each other was unparalleled. Jean and Michael lived in Washington DC, Towson, Maryland and then Potomac, Maryland where their only daughter Jean Antoinette (Jamie) was born in 1972. The Marlows briefly moved to Pound Ridge, NY from 1979-1981 for Michael’s work at the United Nations; they then returned to Potomac until moving to Ashburn, Virginia in 2016.

Jean’s true passions included everything beach, anything creative, and all things puppy dog (preferably Cocker Spaniel or Golden Retriever).

Any beach or boat was home … but especially those around Nags Head in the Outer Banks where she could crab, fish, dig for clams, climb on the dunes, walk the beaches, or swim up and down the shore in her white swim cap. Beaches were made for sun bathing; searching for sea glass and shell treasures; for building most impressive and detailed drip sandcastles ... and of course for sleeping!

Anything creative was an opportunity and a possibility. No job or idea was too big, too small or too challenging. Jean loved to sew and knit. She made smocked dresses for young Jamie and her friends and was always working on a sweater, blanket or hat for someone. Jean was a member of the Altar Guild at church. Among her many projects for St. Francis Episcopal Church included a banner for The National Cathedral, prayer kneelers, and an impressive Eastertime Frontal that she designed and created. Jean also loved working with clay. She made and painted pottery hot plates and herb markers in her kiln and made endless “doughboy” Christmas ornaments. Jean also adored cooking, gardening and anything "home". She painted walls, refurnished furniture, caned chairs, made impressive linen curtains, paved a brick patio and designed and layed ceramic tile dining room floors. She even invented a plastic mailbox drawer in hopes of it becoming the next household necessity.

Jean loved animals, especially dogs. As a young woman, she and her most favored black cocker spaniel, Bimbo, traveled everywhere. After Bimbo came the golden spaniel Spooky. As Jamie grew up, many animals were welcomed into their home. Along with multiple Golden Retrievers were various appearances of bunny rabbits, parakeets, fish, guinea pigs and stray cats needing homes. Jean's last Golden Retriever, Lolly, was with her through the challenge of Michael’s death and after Lolly left her, she adopted her cat, Tigger Three.

Jean approached everything and everyone with a smile. She was gracious, grateful and true. Her happiness, cleverness, motivation and utmost positivity radiated around her. Her bright blue eyes sparkled and welcomed in all with love, care and direction (not to mention she had a head of hair that everyone envied until the day she left us). Her optimism and unique ability to truly see the world through rose colored glasses was impressive, contagious and inspiring. We miss Jean terribly but know that she and Michael are reunited and waltzing and laughing together with family and many friends ... and as always, everything is Humpty Dumpty Gallio!

A funeral service will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church 10033 River Road in Potomac, Maryland on Saturday, January 9, 2027. The service will be held at 10:00 am with a reception immediately following in St. Francis Hall. Please check this website before the service for any additional details, updates or potential changes.