Jean McDonough, Worcester Arts Pillar, Dies At 96

WORCESTER, MA — Jean McDonough, who served as a volunteer and board member for Worcester arts and education institutions for decades, died at her home over the weekend at age 96.

McDonough — whose name graces the downtown Jean McDonough Arts Center (JMAC) venue — volunteered for every major institution in town, and, along with her husband, was a major donor to cultural organizations.

"For over five decades Jean served as a volunteer, a board member, and a financial supporter of local cultural institutions including the Worcester Art Museum, the Hanover Theater, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the American Antiquarian Society, the Worcester Historical Museum, and Music Worcester," her obituary said.

McDonough and her husband, Myles, who started the Spencer-based industrial adhesive giant FLEXcon, also founded the C Jean & Myles Charitable Foundation, which supports local arts organizations. After Myles' death in 2012, Jean McDonough made a $15 million donation to seven cultural institutions in the area.

In a joint statement, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. and Mayor Joseph Petty called McDonough's contributions to the city "everlasting."

"Jean is truly someone who made a difference in Worcester and she will be sorely missed," the statement said. "We extend our deepest condolences to Jean's family, and offer our eternal gratitude for her selfless contributions over the course of her remarkable life."