Jan grew up in the Chicago area and enjoyed piano and violin lessons. Concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra inspired music as a career. She graduated from Indiana University School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree/concentration in violin. She was the violin soloist with The Belles of Indiana for USO tours/concerts including Panama, San Juan and the Guantanimo Navy base. Jan was the string/orchestra teach in District #102 in La Grange, Illinois for several years.
Jand and her husband, Chuck, raised their three children in the Philadelphia area and had opportunities to attend Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. She was the middle school music teacher at the Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont. During that time she received a grant to attend the Susuki International Music Conference and Summer School in Matsumoto, Japan.
Retiring to Savannah in 1993 brought time to sing with the Savannah Philharmonic Symphony Chorus, The Skidaway Community Church choir and an opportunity to sing with I Cantori for more than 20 years. She has 3 children and 7 grandchildren, and enjoys playing golf on a sunny day.