Janet Jannotta Dietz, was deeply involved in our community. She was co-founder of University Commons Neighborhood Association and Founding Member/Board Member of the Maxwell Street Community Garden. She served as co-president of both organizations for many years. She died in spring 2019, just prior to the ground-breaking for the new garden.
Whether it was a UC Kids Club event, Book Club, Gardening Seminar, Chalk Drawing Festival, Garage Sales, The Smyth Holiday Giving Project, Summer Solstice Party, National Night Out (to name just a few) Janet was always involved!
Janet was a knitter. If you Google “knit” you will find “cause to unite, become one, and come together”. Janet took those knitting skills and “brought together” a community both at the Maxwell Garden and at University Commons. She helped in so many ways to bring neighbors together! Many lasting friendships were indirectly made by what Janet helped to achieve.
Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Janet Jannotta Dietz was one such person.
After her death her family, community friends, co-workers and longtime friends “came together” to create floral mosaic designs that were eventually all put together by mosaic artist Kat Powers. The bench was placed where Janet always loved to sit, overlooking the garden and the skyline of the city.
Janet’s bench was dedicated on September 12, 2021.
