Obituary: Jean Ann Lutz

Jean Ann Lutz, born May 1,1943, passed away Aug. 21, 2024.

Jean is survived by her partner, William (Bill) Hardesty of Oxford Ohio; her sister, Mary Lou Beckett of Duck, North Carolina; two nieces, Jane Beckett (Norfolk, Virginia) and Jean Michaels (Oakland, California) and Jean’s children, Jacob and Antigone Michaels. 

She is also survived by extended family: in-laws: Jim, Pam, and George Michaels; nieces and nephews: Susan Novalsky (Mark) and their children Andrew and Sara Jane, and Sherman Yeiter (Stacey) and their children Alicia and Colin; and Bill’s children Bill Hardesty (Skye), Anne Hardesty (Mike), and Anne’s children Gordon and Lucy Chiccehitto. 

Jean earned her BA (summa cum laude) and her MA (with honors) in English from Old Dominion University in 1969 and 1975, respectively. Jean earned her PhD in communications and rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1983. Jean joined the faculty of Miami University in 1983. Jean designed, created, organized and taught technical communications and rhetoric curricula for graduate and undergraduate students. She was the director of the Masters of Technical and Scientific Communication Program from 1996 to 2009. Jean retired from academia in 2013. 

A memorial service for Jean will be held in Oxford, OH at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 25 East Walnut St, Oxford, OH 45056 on Oct. 26, 2024 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to your local SPCA or to a charitable organization of your choice in remembrance of Jean.

We who have known Jean will miss her greatly. The beach was always her favorite spot in nature, so when all is ready, her ashes will be brought to Duck, NC, her beach home, and we will welcome her there for her final rest.