ROCKPORT — Jacqueline K. “Jackie” Teare, 78, beloved wife of the late John Teare, died peacefully, surrounded by her loving caregivers, Tuesday, February 2, 2021 following a lengthy and courageous battle with
Multiple Sclerosis.

Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, September 4, 1942 she was the daughter of John E. and Adelia Spear Korona. She was educated in Massachusetts schools and later earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Journalism from Michigan State University Jackie began her distinguished journalism career writing for the Detroit News, where among other things she interviewed the Beatles when they were making their initial musical tour to the US. She subsequently went to work for the Associated Press, in East Lansing, where she covered the Michigan State Senate.

Her work assignments with AP also included in person coverage of the tragic and destructive Detroit riots of the late 1960s. It was, however, here in East Lansing that she met John H. Teare, a fellow AP journalist. After just a few years, John wrote the AP Chief of Bureau in Detroit to inform him that he “was going to marry their best reporter.”

The pair were married in the spring 1971. Together they continued working as journalists as their careers moved them to Agana, Guam where John became Managing Editor, of the Daily News, while Jackie helped run the show; several years later Jackie and John returned from Guam and moved to Washington, DC.

In Washington, Jackie covered the political beat on Capitol Hill for the Newhouse Newspaper Chain. Along with many other accomplishments over her long career, Jackie was proud to be Michigan’s first female, and one of the first females in the United States, to be inducted into the Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society.

Together John and Jackie retired to the home they build in Rockport in 1993. During this “retirement” period she co-authored the book Wet Pets and Other Water Tales, with friend Hazel H. Weidman and founded the Murphy’s Knees Fund, a Maine charitable, nonprofit corporation designed to provide medical assistance to less fortunate small pet animals.

Jackie was an avid feline devotee and had many “four-legged fur-loves” in her life. Most recently, her companion “Bo” never left her side. Even after her diagnosis of MS, Jackie’s indomitable spirit prevailed. She never complained, or was cross with others, even on her hardest days. Her smile lit up the room and her stories could captivate for hours. She will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure to know and love her.

Predeceased by her beloved husband; Jacqueline is survived by her brother, John Korona, and his wife MaryAnn of Alexandria, Virginia; a sister-in-law, Patricia Teare of Chicago; two nieces, Rose and Betsy and a nephew Michael; as well as her special caregivers who have provided excellent and loving care over the last 9 years.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1079, Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or condolence with Jackie’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.