JSI Mourns the Loss of Diane Hedgecock

Diane Hedgecock, 2007

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Diane Hedgecock passed away peacefully at home with her family on Saturday, March 8. She was surrounded by love and warmed by the kind thoughts and prayers that you have showered upon her.

JSI staff, colleagues, and friends all mourn the loss of Diane's love, humor, and presence among us. Diane was an ardent friend, a committed colleague, mentor, advocate and a tireless promoter of JSI and good public health. We will greatly miss her wisdom, insight, and laughter.

Theo Lippeveld toasts Diane at the Romania Family Health Initiative end of project dinner, September 2007.

Diane worked at JSI since 1985, dedicating her life to improving maternal health—including reproductive health—and child survival. In her role as Senior Technical Advisor, Diane shepherded such successful JSI projects as the Romania Family Health Initiative, the BASICS child survival program, the Cambodia Community Outreach project, and the African portfolio of countries under the SEATS Family Planning Service Expansion and Technical Support project. She received her Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which just last month awarded her the prestigious Sydney S. Chipman Award.

Ken Olivola and Diane celebrate JSI's 25th anniversary in Washington, June 2003.

In addition to her significant work supporting, managing, and advising projects, Diane was a thoughtful and insightful mentor for younger and new staff. She inevitably took the time to provide insights on work or management at JSI or complement staff on a job well done. She was the Deputy Director of JSI's Washington, DC office, helping to keep communications open between large, centrally-funded projects and between JSI's many offices.

Diane Hedgecock in Romania, September 2007

Diane leaves her husband, Val Mezainis, and two children, David and Julie, her sister Joan and her father, who lives in Florida, as well as her many friends and colleagues at JSI and partner organization World Education, Inc., and friends around the world. We will all miss her.