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Jane Shub —

I feel like I’m helpful and

I bring something

good to the community.
Jane Shub and her granddaughter dancing.
I feel young and inspired.

by Jillian Keith, TNP, Marketing Coordinator

ew life events are as painful as said goodbye to Wall Street and worked as an art teacher for
the death of one’s partner. Grief over 15 years. “Art has always been my way of expressing myself.
F can leave you feeling uncertain of I used to have walls full of paintings of my grandchildren and
how you will survive this overwhelming places I’ve been and my life.” Even now, diagnosed with two
loss or rebuild your life, or even leave you terminal illnesses and a failing kidney, Jane still finds painting
questioning if you have the energy or (and her grandchildren) to be the most inspiring and enjoyable
desire to try. For Volunteer of the Month, parts of her life.
Jane Shub, reconnecting with her passion Volunteering at TNP has given Jane the opportunity to pick
for art and volunteering with The Naples up her paintbrush without the limitations of wall space in her
Players (TNP), “reignited my will to live and my joy in life.” living room. “The atmosphere is the best you can find. Nobody
When moving to Florida, Jane Shub was expecting to start works for a promotion. Nobody is trying to get over you in
her life anew. A former computer engineer on Wall Street, Jane line. Everybody is helping each other. Everybody is friendly.
was ready to live a slow and happy life with her husband upon And everybody is doing this because they love it. It’s absolutely
arriving in Naples. “When my husband and I decided to buy a wonderful. Being here and around these people helped me
property down here in Florida, we were both sick and thought through my depression after my husband died and helped me
the weather would help us. Unfortunately, as soon as we moved to stop being so dependent on my close friends and family. This
here, my husband got worse. He had cancer. We tried chemo, is my own space, my own life, my own community, and my own
surgery - everything. None of it helped, and he died.” enjoyment. I can’t lift due to back problems, but everyone comes
“I was here alone and depressed. One of my neighbors had running to help me when I need it. I don’t feel like my back or
an extra ticket to one of the shows at TNP, so I tagged along, limitations are a burden here.”
and was shocked to hear that it was a volunteer organization. Painting trees in The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon and Into
So I applied to volunteer in the scenic shop for decorating and the Woods JR was just the beginning of Jane falling in love with
painting, and I was accepted.” the community here at TNP. “I love how Jason and Mike assign
Jane is no stranger to a paint brush - she says she’s always jobs that they think you will enjoy. They could definitely paint
been an artist. After paying off her children’s college loans, she

Those interested can visit NaplesPlayers.org anytime or call the TNP Box Office at (239)263-7990.

66 Life in Naples | January 2024