Janet Kessin

Janet “Jennie” Kessin was born in Newburyport, MA to Rebecca “Bayla” (Cossin) and Nathan “Nuchem” Barth, both from Kremenets Gubernia, now in western Ukraine. Janet grew up in the West End of Boston, and lived for a time in Chelsea, Roxbury, and Dorchester. When World War II began, Janet left Girls’ High School to enroll in the Civil Service. She was assigned to the Charlestown Navy Yard and later to the South Boston Dry Docks, where she oversaw the tools department – a true version of “Rosie the Riveter.” She married Murray in 1943 and followed him to South Carolina where he began his military service. While he received training as a medic before he was sent to the Philippines, she worked to repair uniforms on the base. After the war, Murray and Janet established the Hub Glassware Company, a hotel and restaurant equipment supply in Boston. Janet and Murray lived in West Roxbury for about 15 years before moving to Newton. After retiring from the Hub Glassware company, Janet rose each day at 6:30 to work as a volunteer at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was twice recognized as “Volunteer of the Year.” She was also active in the Jewish War Veterans Post 211.She was the first female to receive their “Man of the Year” award and to honor her, in 2008, they had to change the name of the award from “Man of the Year” to “Person the Year.” She retired from her work at Brigham and Women’s in her early 90’s . Janet was a member of Temple Emeth and Temple Beth Avodah, a life member of Hadassah and a member of numerous other organizations. Janet also was a tireless campaigner for local, state and presidential democratic figures and could always be seen at the polls holding signs for her candidates. Janet leaves a son Robert A. of Seattle Washington, a daughter Elizabeth Kessin Berman (Daniel M. Berman) of Nahant, MA and a granddaughter, Reena Lynne Berman (John E. McManus) of Denver, CO. She also leaves one surviving brother, William “Maxie” Barth of Stoughton, MA. In addition raising her family and working in the Hub Glassware CO., she never refused an opportunity to make the world a better place. She would have turned 100 on June 22.

Services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet’s memory may be made to the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Volunteer Fund, the Massachusetts State Democratic Committee or the Democratic National Committee.