Dr. Jean Laliberte

Dr. Jean Woodruff Laliberte, age 69, a longtime resident of Troy, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 27, 2020. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of Park Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Danny Arnold officiating, special remarks by Dr. Jack Hawkins and Professor Steve Garrott, and Green Hills Funeral Home directing. Serving as pallbearers will be Nick Gruber, Brandon Burks, Taderion Myhand, and Demaris Harris. Honorary pallbearers will be the Bingo Babes, the Bingo Bunch, Monday night Bible study group, the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, the Troy University family, trusted friend Dorothea Fielder, and special family friend Hazel Cox. She will be laid to rest in Notre Dame Cemetery in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

In 1991, Dr. Laliberte came to Troy University as a professor of marketing and served in that position until 2005. In 2000, she was named the Associate Vice Chancellor for Development and served in that position until her retirement in 2017. Prior to her relocation, she held the positions as an Instructor of Marketing with Clemson University (1974-1981), Associate Professor of Marketing, Western New England College (1981-1987); and Associate Professor of Marketing and Finance with Elms College (1987-1991). Jean was a spirited patron of the Troy communities, contributing her time, expertise, and unwavering determination to the betterment of every organization of which she was a part. And there weren’t many to which she didn’t contribute. Her community involvements include serving as the local chapter and state treasure of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority; Troy Rotary; DAR; secretary of the Troy Arts Council; Troy Arts Auxiliary; Republican Women; Mortar Board; New Century Club; Female Factor; Troy Regional Medical Foundation; Troy University Legacy Council; and Park Memorial UMC Circle of Benevolence. She received numerous awards for her collaborations, participation, and fundraising, most notably the National Honorary Troy University Alumna, 2017; C.A.S.E. paper awards (2005-2017) – Grand Award 2012; and her works to raise $256 million for Development (2000-2017). Socially, she was a strategic Bingo player, great carrot cake baker, and one of the greatest Troy Trojans found around town.

Dr. Laliberte is survived by her husband of 36 years, David Laliberte; daughter, Jennifer “Jeni” Laliberte-Gruber (Nick) of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren, John Harrison and Hawkins Gruber; mother, Jean Tulli of Clemson, SC; sisters, Jennifer Barbour of Clemson, SC and Anne Jordan of Statesville, NC; nieces and nephews, Faith Barbour of Greenwood, SC, Cameron Jordan McKinzie (Brian) of Chapel Hill, NC, Graham Jordan of Statesville, NC, and Braylon Barbour of Greenwood, SC; and brother-in-law, Paul Laliberte of Troy. She was preceded in death by her father, Alton Woodruff; and father and mother-in-law, John and Lois Laliberte.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made out to the Troy University Foundation for the Dr. Jean Laliberte Scholarship (301 Adams Adm Bldg Troy, AL 36082 or 334-670-3608 ) or to the Park Memorial United Methodist Church, (P.O. Box 1291, Troy, AL 36081). A livestream of her service will be available for viewing. Friends and family can sign the guestbook online at greenhillsfuneralhome.net. The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Laliberte family.