Jean Gilpin
Jean Gilpin, a graduate of Princeton University, spent her first years after college as a fixed income specialist for the largest bank in New Jersey. She later worked during the early years of pagination as a designer for a local newspaper. With an interest in early childhood education, Jean became involved with Powhatan School, a Pre-K though eight independent organization. For more than 40 years, she has served as a teacher, board member, Chair of Advancement and Finance Committees and President of the Board of Trustees. Jean currently serves as President of the Associate Board at Powhatan, a position she has held for seventeen years.
Jean became a member of the Garden Club of Virginia in 1982. In her work with GCV, Jean turned her attention to environmental education, horticulture, biodiversity, protection of viewsheds and preservation of historic landscapes. She has served in a leadership position for the past fifteen years including membership on the Finance Committee, Chair of the Development Committee, Chair of the Restoration Committee and President of the organization.
During her twelve-year tenure on the GCV Restoration Committee, Jean was integrally involved with numerous projects which included the restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s paper mulberry allée, clumps and carriage turnaround at Poplar Forest as well as the restoration of the “Kitchen Road” at Monticello. GCV revisited the East Garden at Stratford Hall, a 1930’s restoration by Arthur Shurcliff and Morey Williams, and redesigned the upper terrace to reflect patterns revealed by archaeology, typical of a mid-eighteenth century garden. The remainder of the garden continues to be interpreted as an example of the Colonial Revival style.
Equally significant are projects at lesser-known sites. Continuing its work at John Handley High School in Winchester, VA, GCV entered into a partnership with the City of Winchester and the Handley Trust to restore the tree-lined entrance to the school according to Walter McCornack’s plan. Improvements have been made to the gardens at Belmont in Falmouth, VA, home to American Impressionist Gary Melcher and his wife Corinne, as well as a redesign of the entrance to the Burwell-Morgan Mill, an eighteenth century grist mill in Millwood, VA, still in use today.
Most recent projects include the reimagining of the landscape at GCV’s headquarters, Kent-Valentine House in Richmond and the restoration of the Bowling Green at the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Jean’s volunteer efforts with Powhatan School and the Garden Club of Virginia unite her passion for appreciation of the environment, preservation of open spaces, and cultivating love, respect and sensitivity for our natural world in people of all ages. Born in western Pennsylvania, Jean has resided in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for the past 50 years with her husband, Tom.