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M. Jane Ford Witthoff devoted more than five decades to transforming public health and championing underserved communities. Her career was defined by bold leadership, compassionate service, and a relentless drive to improve the lives of others. This tribute aims to reflect the full scope of who Jane was: a brilliant leader, a passionate advocate, and a human being navigating the complexities of life with honesty and courage.

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She began in 1963 as a laboratory technician and soon moved into public service roles that allowed her to shape policy and programs at every level. In 1971, she became a food stamp caseworker in Norfolk, Nebraska—an entry point to a career that would influence health systems across the state and beyond.

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For 17 years, Jane led the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, where her innovative programs and collaborative leadership earned state and national acclaim. Later, as Executive Director of Public Health Solutions, she expanded the department into a dynamic and diverse team serving rural Nebraskans with integrity and heart.

Throughout her career, Jane took on national leadership roles, including presidencies of the National Association of County and City Health Officials,  Public Health Association of Nebraska,  and the Nebraska Association of County Health Officials.  She was respected not just for her strategic insight, but also for her mentorship of a generation of public health professionals.

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Her colleagues remember her as fearless, visionary, and deeply committed to health equity. She challenged systems that failed the vulnerable and inspired others to lead with purpose.

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Still, Jane never shied away from acknowledging the personal costs of such unwavering commitment. She understood that the demands of her work often left little space for other roles she cared about—as a mother, a wife, and a friend. In later years, she spoke candidly about those trade-offs, carrying both pride in her public service and regret over time lost with loved ones.

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Outside of her professional accomplishments, Jane found joy in life’s quieter moments. She had a deep love for animals and delighted in feeding the squirrels outside her window. Her cherished Chihuahua, Carmen, was a source of comfort during life’s more difficult seasons. Jane also pursued thoughtful interests in current affairs, needlepoint, and canning—activities that reflected her appreciation for both tradition and self-reliance. She also loved attending equestrian events with Amanda. Her favorite singers were Bob Dylan and the Bee Gees. Her favorite classical pieces were Massenet's Meditation from Thais and Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. These pursuits revealed another side of Jane: attentive, grounded, refined, and always engaged with the world around her.

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In her later years, as she faced significant health challenges—including a kidney transplant, knee replacement, hip replacements,  and repeated infections—Jane experienced a quieter chapter. The networks that once surrounded her gradually receded, and she often faced these difficulties without the full circle of community she once knew.

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Jane herself reflected on these later experiences, recognizing that influence and titles do not always translate into enduring companionship. Her story reminds us that people are often drawn to power, but not always to the person behind it.

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Jane was predeceased by her husband, Judge Earl Witthoff, and is survived by her beloved daughter, Amanda. Though she and her first husband, William Ford, later went separate ways, they remained close throughout her life, bound by shared history, mutual respect, and enduring love. Amanda and William lovingly walked beside Jane in her later years, sharing the responsibilities of caregiving with devotion.  Jane was also grateful for the steady support her brother offered throughout her illnesses.

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While Jane's dedication to her career had once created distance between them, her daughter Amanda stood by her mother in her final years. With quiet resolve, Amanda helped Jane navigate aging and the healthcare system—offering support, dignity, and fierce advocacy when it was most needed. In Jane’s final weeks, Amanda held medical power of attorney and was called upon to make difficult and deeply personal decisions. She approached each moment with courage and clarity, carefully researching every new development to ensure her mother’s comfort and dignity were preserved.  Her steadfastness during that time was an act of quiet strength and love—an extraordinary example of devotion that spoke not only to Amanda’s character but to the depth of the bond she and her mother had reclaimed.

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​This memorial honors the full spectrum of Jane’s life—her brilliance, her dedication, her accomplishments, her humanity, and her humility. Her work changed lives. Her legacy endures not just in public health systems, but in the hearts of those who knew her.

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In keeping with Jane’s wishes, no public funeral or memorial service has been held. She was a deeply private person who believed that the essence of a life could not be captured by ceremony alone. Jane often expressed that she was not her body, and that outward displays of mourning were less important than living out the values she championed. This written tribute reflects her preference for quiet reflection over public ritual and invites those who knew her to remember her in their own meaningful ways.

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Those who wish to share a memory, reflection, or tribute to Jane are warmly invited to do so. Submissions will be welcomed and thoughtfully gathered to reflect the many dimensions of her life and legacy, with care and respect for her values and the diverse perspectives of those she touched.  Please go to the last page. 

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