Jean Ann Pauline Endrizzi

DULUTH, Minn. — Jean Ann Pauline Endrizzi, 88, of Duluth, long-time educator and community volunteer, died on Jan. 30, 2019.  

Born in Hibbing to Ben and Pauline (Calvi) Endrizzi on Sept. 23, 1930, the family moved to Pence and Hurley, Wis. in 1937. Graduating from Lincoln High School in Hurley and receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wisconsin State College at Superior in 1952, Ms. Endrizzi continued her life-long pursuit of degrees and knowledge at many universities and colleges. She achieved an Master of Arts and PhD equivalent, taking classes and teaching well into her retirement. 

She taught in Park Falls, Wis., for five years before moving to Duluth to teach at her beloved Denfeld High School. Two Denfeld speech teams earned Minnesota State High School League championships during her years as speech coach. Many other state, regional, and national awards were earned by her students in the National Forensics League.

Active in numerous community and professional organizations, she served as presiding officer of the Duluth Playhouse, Duluth Area Retired Educators, Duluth Women’s Institute, Denfeld Faculty Senate, Alpha Delta Kappa — Iota and Fidelis chapters, and the Duluth Folk Festival. She served on many boards of directors, including University for Seniors at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Marie Saltwick Scholarship Fund, Greater Denfeld Scholarship Fund, Friends of the Duluth Public Library, Minnesota Council of Teachers of English, Minnesota Association of Community Theatres, Duluth Business and Professional Women, Duluth Women’s Club, St. Louis County Heritage and Arts, Glensheen Docents, and St. Mary’s Auxiliary. She was past president of the Duluth Playhouse and the World Affairs Council. She was a volunteer coordinator and reader for the Lighthouse for the Blind and casting director of the Christmas Choral Pageant.

An avid traveler, Ms. Endrizzi followed her love of theater anywhere, anytime, anyplace, and in any language. Her continuing relationship with former students and colleagues formed bonds in many parts of the world. Nominated for Duluth Hall of Fame and Port Cities Woman of the Year many times, she was named Twin Ports Woman of the Year in 1992. She was the recipient three times of the Duluth Playhouse Special Achievement Award and was inducted into the Hurley Education Foundation as a distinguished alumna in 2013. She was inducted into the Denfeld High School Hall of Fame and earned the University for Seniors Confucius Award in 2014. 

Ms. Endrizzi was preceded in death by her parents and many loved ones, and is survived by her best friend and sister Carol (Ron) Trethewey and cherished niece Amy Trethewey, all of Duluth. She leaves behind precious friends and relatives, and a countless number of students who she touched and befriended during her 35-year teaching career in Park Falls and at Denfeld.

Jean’s incredible life will be celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Duluth Cremation Society at 4100 Grand Ave., with a visitation at 2:30 p.m. and a service at 3:30 p.m. There will be a Mass and burial in Hurley in the spring.

The daughter of florists, Ms. Endrizzi and her survivors would appreciate flowers or donations to the Ben and Pauline Endrizzi Scholarship Fund (at the Hurley High School in Hurley, Wis.), the Greater Denfeld Scholarship Fund, or the Duluth Playhouse.