SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KOLR) – Jane Pitt, a prominent philanthropist in Springfield, Missouri, has died at the age of 84, according to her family.
Pitt, whose children included actor Brad Pitt, Springfield businessman Doug Pitt and Julie Neal, passed away Tuesday, her family said.
An obituary shared with local affiliate KOLR from her son Doug Pitt described Jane Pitt as a dedicated educator at heart, beginning her career as an elementary school teacher.
Pitt was also a longtime volunteer at the Pregnancy Care Center in Springfield. The family’s $1 million donation in 2009 helped establish the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital.
“Jane Pitt’s impact on our community and the kids Mercy cares for will last forever,” a spokesperson from Mercy Hospital told KOLR. “We hope she is resting in eternal peace, and we have the Pitt family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
The spokesperson went on to call her “truly a transformative person.”
“She was one of those people you can’t help but want to emulate. She was generous, determined, joyful, loving and committed to using her life to serve others. We feel so blessed to have known her and been able to work alongside her in her mission to care for kids in the Ozarks.”
The obituary from the family says Pitt was passionately connected to Ethiopia, Africa, where her granddaughters are leading ongoing projects to support those communities.
Sidney Pitt, one of Pitt’s granddaughters, posted a tribute on Instagram on Wednesday to the late philanthropist.
“If you knew Grammy, you knew she had the biggest heart,” Sidney wrote. “She cared deeply for everyone and everything, no questions asked.”
Jane Pitt is survived by her husband, her children and 14 grandkids, according to the obituary.
