Obituary of Janet T Soukup

Janet T. Soukup, a 52-year resident of Mendham, passed away on August 5, 2015 at Morristown Medical Center from lymphoma. She was 82. Daughter of Edythe and Charles Schmitt, born in the Bronx, NY, Janet grew up in Scarsdale and spent summers in Mattituck, Long Island. Charles had a floor covering business, C.H Schmitt & Co, in Tribeca that Edythe took over at 47 when Charles passed, which she ran until she was 84. Janet wasn't interested in floor covering. Instead, her ambitions were artistic, and she spent her life involved in creative pursuits. She was a wonderful painter, calligrapher, decorator, gardener, entertainer, cook, potter, knitter, flower arranger, and print maker. While in high school, she made her own clothing and her father's shirts because they were both so tall. She even designed the street sign for Oak Knoll Road, where she lived. When an artist was needed, people called Janet, and she rarely said no to requests for her help. Janet graduated from Scarsdale High School and then Skidmore in Saratoga Springs in 1955 with an art education degree. It was in Saratoga Springs that she met her husband, Stanley Soukup, of White Plains, a member of the Air Force and later, a chemical engineer. They lived in Kettering, Ohio, and Dover, NJ before moving to Mendham Township in 1963. Janet started her career teaching art in Briarcliff Manor, NY and resumed it after she had her children, Alicia and Cheri, as elementary school art teacher for the Morris School District in 1972. She held that position until retiring in 1998, inspiring her students with her lessons for 26 years. It was there that she started the tradition of displaying Christmas tree decorations around the Green. She would hang 500-picture art shows, attend enrichment classes, and go to meetings -- all after teaching a full day. And then, she would go home a make a gourmet meal for family or friends. Later in life, she made scones for everyone from her neighbors to her car mechanic who rarely asked for payment after eating them. She loved travel, and journeyed to Prague with her husband Stan. They also renovated and spent time at her parents' 100-year old house in Mattituck on a bluff overlooking the Great Peconic Bay. Janet was the 1st woman president of the Scarsdale Young Republicans Club. She was active in the Brookside Community Church, The Garden Club, Book Club, and The Brookside Women's Club where she served as President. She was a Girl Scout leader, President of the Morris County Art Educators Association, and was active on various committees for the Art Educators of NJ. She was a member Alfa Delta Kappa-Rho Chapter of the teacher sorority. She volunteered at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Meals on Wheels and Mansion in May. She painted a map of the historical houses in Mendham displayed for many years at the Brookside library. She loved her community, her friends, and her family and all of us will miss her terribly. She was predeceased by her husband, Stanley in 2008. She is survived by two daughters, Alicia Soukup of Mendham and daughter Cheri Soukup of Manhattan, a granddaughter, Sage Anne Thomas, a brother, Charles (Choddie) Schmitt of Mt. Kisco, NY, and a sister, Caryl Anne Speck of Melbourne, Florida. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to Mendham Township First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 122, Brookside, N.J., 07926 or the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital, 100 Madison Ave., Morristown, N.J., 07962, and the Brookside Community Church, 8 East Main Street, Brookside, NJ 07926. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 13, from 4-8 pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ. A Memorial Service will be August 14, at 11am at the Brookside Community Church.