Jane C. Denton, BA ’66 and MA ’90

Jane C. Denton was one of the more personable and popular of the honors chemistry majors who entered UB in 1961. Her energy, laugh and high spirits were the heart of a close-knit group of chemistry majors. Shortly after completing her final BA exams in chemistry in 1966, Jane was tragically stricken with encephalitis. This disease attacked her brain stem, leaving her unable to speak or use her arms and legs. She was left with the complication of Parkinson’s Disease which she bravely battled for the rest of her life. She never gave in to her infirmities. Her intellect and spirit persisted, and the computer and electronics become her primary communication tools. She maintained her interest in chemistry. She was a lifelong member of the American Chemical Society and earned a master’s degree in quantum chemistry in 1990. Later she became a consultant to the UB Department of Communications. In 2005, she traveled to Germany to deliver a lecture on augmented communication methods. Because of the deaths of other family members, Jane spent over 35 years in nursing homes. However, near the end of her life she was able to move into her own apartment with extensive support. She died in 2010.

The Jane C. Denton Endowment Fund was established in 2012 by Dr. Lawrence Frenkel BA ’56, and Dr. Donald Schulz, BA ’65, in memory of their classmate, Jane.