Jane Boutelle, 86; Developed Boutelle Exercise Method

Jane Cronin Boutelle, a longtime resident of Greenwich, passed away on Oct. 14 at Greenwich Hospital surrounded by friends and family. She was 86.

Mrs. Boutelle was born Nov. 3, 1926 in Boston, MA to William F. Cronin and his wife Sarah.

Mrs. Boutelle received a bachelor's degree from Sargent College of Allied Health at Boston University in 1948 and a Master's degree from Columbia University. While pursuing additional post graduate work at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Medical College she met her late husband, G. William Boutelle, a member of the Harvard Business School Class of 1950.

Mrs. Boutelle taught dance and fitness at Newton Country Day School, Scarsdale High School and Marymount College. In 1956 she developed an exercise program for women which she later incorporated into her firm The Boutelle Method Inc. Her program had a 60-year relationship with the YWCA of Greenwich where they continue to be taught.

In the early 1970s. she was a founding member of the Greenwich Commission on Aging and adapted her program which incorporates live piano music for nursing homes in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY as well as Greenwich Adult Day Care. She was also asked to consult on her program as the Chair of the Greenwich Association for Public Schools. Her book Jane Boutelle's Lifetime Fitness for Women, (published by Simon and Schuster, 1978; Fireside Books 1980) appeared on the New York Times non-fiction best seller list. She was also a contributor to "Good Housekeeping", "Tennis" Magazine and the Journal of the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Among her many awards were recognition as a Bravo Award winner in 1978 and Female Small Business Owner of the Year by the Entrepreneurial Center Inc. Mrs. Boutelle served as a Board Member of Soroptomists International, the Westchester Lighthouse for the Blind; The American Association of University Women and the American Heart Association.

A lifelong Red Sox fan, Mrs. Boutelle was also an avid tennis player and gardener. She served as the President of the Greenwich Woman's Club Gardeners. She was also an active world traveler beginning with her husband who worked on Atoms for Peace under President Eisenhower.

Mrs. Boutelle is survived by her daughter Jeannie Boutelle of Chicago and twin sons Bill Boutelle and James Boutelle, his wife Laura and daughter Sarah, all of Greenwich.

A memorial funeral mass will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Meals on Wheels of Greenwich or the Greenwich Woman's Club Gardeners Scholarship Fund.