Posh Princess Passes with Pugnaciousness and Pomp: A Toast

Tonight we mark the passing of a true original among us. Jeanmarie Traversi—fighter and lady in equal measure, sharp-minded businesswoman, devoted single mother, Rotarian, and steadfast guardian of her community—has finished her bout with that one opponent none of us ever quite beats: time.

She lived boldly and on her own terms. She built a business, raised a family, and made it all look effortless, though we know it was anything but. She had a gift for gathering people in—especially the lost and the hurting—and more than a few of the children her own child brought home found in Jeanmarie a mother nearer than the one they were born to. She was a mama bear in the truest sense, and woe to anyone who mistook her kindness for weakness.

In her later years, she knew happiness of a special kind, sharing some of the best days of her life with her partner Ron at her side. Surrounded by friends, family, and a community she never stopped showing up for, she remained engaged, opinionated, and unafraid right to the end. When the time came to lay down her arms, she met it with clear eyes and unmistakable courage—no regrets, no half-measures.

So let us take a lesson from her. Hold your people close. Stand up for what you believe. Build something worth leaving behind. And tonight, as we lift our glasses, let us spare a strong and grateful thought for Jeanmarie Traversi.

A great lioness has left the room—and we are all the richer for having known her.