MANCHESTER, NH—Jane Katherine (Teich) Rich, a former longtime resident of Carthage, New York, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Mrs. Rich was born Nov. 19, 1924, in Catskill, daughter of Harry C. and Emily Meidling Teich of Leeds, N.Y.  She attended the elementary school in Leeds and was graduated from Catskill High School in 1941. In 1947 she received a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in music education, from Potsdam State University College.  On completion of graduate work at Potsdam and at St. Lawrence University, Canton, she obtained her permanent certificate in music teaching in February of 1972, and certification in school administration and supervision in February of 1976.

After one year, 1946-47, as a teacher of dramatics and elementary vocal music in Gouverneur public schools, she became high school band director and an instrumental music teacher in West Carthage public schools in April of 1948.  She was married October 16 of that year, in Leeds, to Robert C. Rich, then editor of the CARTHAGE REPUBLICAN TRIBUNE.

When the REPUBLICAN TRIBUNE was incorporated May 31, 1958, as the Carthage Printing and Publishing Company, Mrs. Rich became its vice president and secretary, continuing in that position until its dissolution in 1982 when the newspaper was sold.

From 1948 until 1967 Mrs. Rich taught piano privately, averaging about 35 students per year. From 1967 until 1973 she taught elementary and junior high instrumental music and directed the junior high band at Lowville Academy and Central School.

Mrs. Rich joined the Carthage Central Schools faculty in 1973 and for one year taught instrumental music and directed the band of the junior high school. Beginning in September of 1974, and continuing until her retirement in June of 1986, she was the district director of music.  Mrs. Rich received the Carthage Central School Hall of Achievement award for 2006.

For many years Mrs. Rich served as the director of various church choirs in the community, including those of the United Community Church, the First Baptist Church, and the former United Christian and First Presbyterian Churches.  She was choir director of the Presbyterian Church for about 25 years, and until 2009, director of the choir of the United Community Church.

Throughout her life in Carthage Mrs. Rich also had directed adult and children's choirs of combined churches, as well as the Carthage Community Chorus. She was active for many years in the Carthage Little Theater, directing or serving as musical director of a number of its musical productions. Mrs. Rich also had directed several of the annual musicals produced at Carthage Central High School.

Mrs. Rich was a former member and a past president and past treasurer of the Carthage Music Club. She was a past president of the Carthage Chapter, American Field Service.  She and her husband were hosts in 1966-67 and 1977-1978, respectively, to Asle Rolland of Norway and Mahia Bennett of New Zealand, AFS foreign scholarship students at Carthage Central High School.  Mrs. Rich served on the unification study committee of the former United Christian and First Presbyterian Churches.

Mrs. Rich was a member of the board of directors of the Twin Village Festival of the Arts (TwinFest) which she founded in 1982 and served as first president. She was a former member (1987-1990) of the North Country Library System's decentralization committee for the awarding of North Country grants from the New York State Council on the Arts.  She was a member of the board of trustees of the Pratt-Northam Foundation from 1988 to 1997, and she was a member of the Carthage Area Hospital Auxiliary.

Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Rich continued to live in the family home on State Street in Carthage for another 14 years.  She departed Carthage in the spring of 2012 to join her elder son Tom in Leominster, MA.  Since November of 2013, Mrs. Rich had been a resident of RiverWoods Manchester, NH, close to her younger son, Kevin, where she entertained friends and family, pursued her lifelong interest in crocheting and knitting, and painted porcelain pottery.

Surviving Mrs. Rich are her two sons, R. Thomas Rich, San Diego, CA, and Kevin A. Rich, Candia, NH; four granddaughters:  Hannah, Emily, Melissa, and Rachael; five grandchildren; her brother, Lt. Col. (USA, retired) Harry C. Teich, Jr., Hartwick, NY; and eight nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased, in 1998, by her husband of nearly 50 years, Robert C. Rich; her older brother, Thomas L. Teich, Freehold, NY; and her younger sister, Margaret Adine Wilder, Burlington, NC.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, July 12, 2024, at the United Community Church in Carthage. Burial will be in North Watertown Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, Carthage.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mrs. Rich's memory to the United Community Church in Carthage, New York, or to the Carthage Area Hospital Foundation. To leave a condolence, go to www.bezanillafh.com.