Jean Arendes Wittich (nee Franklin), born August 28, 1933 in Cumberland, Maryland passed peacefully on June 18, 2024 with her children by her side.  She was a lifelong academic, musician, artist, sports enthusiast and animal lover.

Jean attended Oldfields School, Vassar College, Conservatoire de Poitiers (France) and Johns Hopkins University where she earned several degrees including her PhD.  She was a Professor of English and Chairman of the Modern Language Department (French) at University of Baltimore.  Jean also collaborated on several histories and two film documentaries.

Jean was a board member of the original Poe Society.  She skied from an early age and when young, rode her horse in shows and fox hunts.  For many years she competed in tennis and squash which she continued to play well into her 80's.  Jean studied classical and jazz piano as well as teaching lessons over the years and enjoyed oil painting.

Jean is survived by her daughter Jesse Wittich Anderson and her husband Griffith Baily Anderson of Evergreen, CO, her son Henry "Hans" Wittich, IV and fiancé Maurine Buck Bennett of Baltimore, MD, as well as her two grandsons Chase Arendes Wittich and Charles Schroeder Wittich.  She was predeceased by her twin brother Major General Joseph Powel Franklin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charities like the Maryland SPCA https://www.mdspca.org/ to support Jean's lifelong love of dogs, and/or Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ to support her twin brother's military career including his combat service in Vietnam, and/or Paws for Purple Hearts https://pawsforpurplehearts.org/ to support both.  There will be a celebration of life to be scheduled at a later date.