Westport native Jean Hunt Tucker died August 5 in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was 100, and one of the last surviving “Rosie the Riveters” in the country.
She was born in a house on Imperial Avenue built by her father, Leon Hunt.
Jean graduated from Staples High School in 1941. Soon, she became one of the first female engineers to work during World War II. Among her projects: the F4U Corsair.
Jean Tucker with the Connecticut Air & Space Center’s Corsair, 2 years ago.
After Staples she headed to college in Ohio. But several months later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. She returned to this area, and enrolled at Bridgeport State Trade School to learn drafting.
At 18 she joined the engineering department of Chance Vought Aircraft in Stratford. The company sent her to the Academy of Aeronautics, near La Guardia Airport, which trained women entering the industry.
She was one of very few females at Chance Vought. Most of the others were secretaries and clerks.
Jean made drawings of parts for electrical installations — without ever seeing the actual equipment. She also worked on fuselages.
Part of the Connecticut Air & Space Center’s exhibit is dedicated to Jean Hunt Tucker.
In 1945 Jean entered Northeastern University, as one of its first class of women. She earned a BS in industrial engineering.
She married in 1949. When the company moved to Dallas, she stayed here. She earned a degree in industrial engineering, and taught math for 38 years in Massachusetts, New York, Indiana and Pennsylvania, and in England as an exchange teacher.
After retiring from Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, she spent many years teaching in Honduras.
Jean was an avid model railroader and amateur genealogist. She was a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She is survived by her son Mark, of Pinellas Park, Florida; daughters Wendy of St. Petersburg, Florida and Dency of Los Angeles; 2 granddaughters, 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.