A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Jean Rice

Jean Rice, our beloved brother and a dear friend, mentor and teacher to so many, transitioned on March 12, 2025. Jean made us think, and laugh, and think some more. We were all so proud to have the honor of knowing him. He never gave up on the promise of our collective humanity and he did his best to play a part in making New York City, and this country, a more just place for everyone.

Jean's family and friends request your support at this time to hold a memorial and celebration of his life, as well as for help with the costs of cremation. Thank you in advance for your support. It means so much to all of us.

We are grateful that long time friends of Jean's, the Rev. Elizabeth Maxwell and Father Clyde Kuemmerle, will officiate Jean's homegoing, and we hope you can join us.

Services will be held on Thursday, April 10th, from 6 to 9pm at:

Church of the Ascension

36–38 Fifth Avenue and West 10th Street

Manhattan

After the service, we will break bread, and reflect on the amazing impact he had on our own lives, on this city and beyond. We'll listen to some of his favorite music and we will remember him with a smile, as he would want us to do.

A little about Jean:

Jean was a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather and a great grandfather. He was also a widely respected social justice leader and a founding board member of Picture the Homeless (PTH). His intellectual rigor set a high standard for the organization, and earned him the nickname "The Professor."

Jean didn't simply tell people to do their research, he created the Jean Rice Liberation Library so that folks had the resources to conduct research. Jean was also a Poverty Scholar, participating in the founding of the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary, now the Kairos Center and Poor People's Campaign. Through that work Jean built relationships with social justice leaders from NYC to California, from Ferguson to West Virginia, Brazil and South Africa.

A prolific writer and public speaker, Jean said, "As a founding member of the Picture the Homeless civil rights committee, I say that all New York City citizens, whether domiciled or undomiciled, should be equal before the law."

Jean leaves a legacy of faith and a commitment to justice for "the least amongst us."

Please join us in celebrating Jean's life and his legacy on April 10th.