Passing of Rev. Jeanne Pupke, MDiv '04

We are mourning the loss of a beloved minister, leader, Meadville Lombard trustee, and friend to many of us. Rev. Jeanne Pupke, MDiv '04, crossed the threshold of earthly life on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022.

As an advocate, Rev. Pupke was on the frontlines of lending her voice, professional expertise, and ministerial presence on behalf of the rights of youth, women, LGBTQ+ communities, economic justice, and immigrants. Her passion to do her part in building a world shaped by justice is evident in her ministerial path. Whether serving a congregation, mentoring ministerial interns, or in her work at the UU Legislative Ministry of Virginia, Rev. Pupke was a witness to the life-affirming promise of the Living Tradition. During her time on the Board of Trustees, Rev. Pupke shared her vision for a future in which theological education would be part of the day-to-day work of congregational life, bridging the gap between schools and the church, living into shared ministry.

I will miss Rev. Pupke's words of encouragement and our conversations about the future of Unitarian Universalism as a faith for today's world. I will also miss our conversations about baseball. Jeanne was an avid baseball fan. We would often text each other, sharing stories of joy and commiseration when our teams failed to perform to our expectations. She always remained hopeful that her Washington Nationals would come through.

As we join in mourning for the loss of a beloved, I ask that you continue to hold her wife Regina, her family and friends, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, Virginia, and all of those within our faith and beyond, who were touched by Jeanne’s life in your prayers during this time of loss. May the fruits of her ministry continue to inspire us.

Dr. Elías Ortega
President