Janet Bruce Scott 1934 - 2025

Janet Bruce Scott

Hadley, MA - On the last day of August, 2025, Janet Bruce Scott passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Hadley, MA, surrounded by family, friends and music. She was born and raised in Wellsville, NY to Andrew Allen Scott and Mary Lou (nee' Bruce) Scott along with her younger sister Molly, amid various horses, boats, and long summers at Keuka Lake.

A Philosophy major at Mount Holyoke College, she married John (Jack) Tangerman who graduated from Dartmouth at McGill as an arctic oceanographic researcher. They settled in Chicago, where they were part of the folk music community in the late 1950's. Jack's permafrost research drew them back to New Hampshire where they lived in an historic fixer-upper house in Lyme with their two children.

After Jack's death in 1965, Janet moved back to upstate New York where she earned a Masters degree in Education and taught high school English. She married Sterling Klinck in 1968 and they moved to the Rochester Folk Art Guild, an intentional crafts and farming community in the Finger Lakes, where Janet exercised her considerable artistic talent to become an accomplished potter.

In 1976 Janet moved to the Findhorn Community in Scotland where she discovered a lifelong passion for teaching sacred circle dance, a deep network of kindred spirits, and a faint British accent. After six years in Europe she returned to New England, pursuing her calling in sacred dance; for many years she organized and co-led large circle dance camps where she was known as "Rowan" and was beloved of a wide community of dancers.

In 1988 she married Chester Abel, settled in Hadley, and continued her networking, dancing, grandmothering, and gardening, Janet/Rowan was constantly questing and exploring spiritually, was an advocate for the earth, had a fierce intellect with a broad silly streak, and brought much joy to those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband Chet, her daughter Kristin (David Bull), her son Robin (Melissa Chestnut-Tangerman), her sister Molly Scott, niece Maya Scott and nephew Ian Gilligham, five stepchildren, five granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren, as well as extensive circles of family and friends who loved and continue to honor her. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.