Born in Towanda, PA, March 6, 1944, she was the daughter of the late J. Edward and Elizabeth (Jefferson) Brenchley. Jean is survived by her brother James Brenchley (Shirley) of LeRoy Township, her niece Donna Field (Brian), and her nephews John Brenchley (Kimberly) and Michael Brenchley (Korey). Jean was predeceased by her husband Bernard Asbell.
Jean graduated from Canton High School in 1962 and received her B.S. degree in biology from Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA in 1965, after which she obtained a M.S. degree in marine microbiology from the University of California, San Diego, in 1967, followed by her Ph.D. degree in microbiology from the University of California, Davis, in 1970. She held a 1-year post-doctoral appointment in the Biology Department of MIT, Cambridge, MA, and then joined the faculty of Penn State’s Microbiology Department (University Park) in 1971 as Assistant Professor and subsequently promoted to Associate Professor. In 1977 Jean continued her teaching and research activity at the Biological Sciences Department of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, being promoted to Professor of Biology in 1979.
Among her many honors and awards received, Jean was designated an Outstanding Alumna of Mansfield University (1983), and awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lycoming College (1992). She received the Waksman Award for Outstanding Contributions in Microbiology from the Theobald Smith Society (1985), the Alice Evans Award from the American Society for Microbiology (1996) for her longstanding commitment to the professional development of women in microbiology, and received a Research Career Development Award from NIH (1976-1981). She was elected President of the American Society for Microbiology (1986) and accepted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (1987). She later was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1994) and a Fellow of the Society for Industrial Microbiology (1998). Jean was recognized as a leader in the microbial sciences by being selected as Editor for the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology (1981-1985) and for Microbiological Reviews (1992-1997). She participated as a member of several microbiology journals’ editorial boards and also was a frequent participant in groups examining the status of women microbiologists and employment opportunities for women and minorities in science, being the keynote speaker at the 2009 Symposium for Women in the Sciences. Many of Jean’s professional papers and personal awards have been donated by Jean and her family to the LeRoy Heritage Museum (associated with the Bradford County Historical Society Museum in Towanda) for inclusion in a section of the museum that features notable accomplishments of Bradford County natives.
Following her retirement, a colleague introduced Jean to fly fishing which proved to be a great joy for her and offered considerable relaxation, along with learning how easy it was to lose flies. She equally enjoyed meeting with and teaching other women to fly fish, as evidenced by her years of active participation with the Central Pennsylvania Women Anglers group. She could always be counted on to illustrate rod assembly, attaching a fly, and getting their fly line tangled. She also took pleasure in planting a small vegetable garden which never failed to produce ample nutritious vegetables for neighboring groundhogs, rabbits and deer.
A memorial service celebrating Jean’s life is planned for 11 a.m ., Aug. 31, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, 780 Waupelani Extension, State College. In lieu of flowers, those persons wishing to support a cause valued and enjoyed by Jean are directed to the LeRoy Heritage Museum, 257 Mill Street, Canton PA 17724.
Final arrangements are under the direction of Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College, Pennsylvania.