Jeanne Murtaugh, a leader in finance, devoted wife, loving mother, and grandmother, also known as Jammie, died peacefully surrounded by family on May 7, 2024, at the age of 73. Her lasting legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of her loved ones and the profound impact she left on Wall Street and her community.
Jeanne was born on June 5, 1950, in Hackensack, NJ, the daughter of the late Raymond R. Schwartz and Margaret McCabe Schwartz. She graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, NJ, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the UNC-Chapel Hill Executive MBA program.
As the eldest of the eleven Schwartz children, Jeanne, as her mother proudly noted, skipped the typical childhood and went straight to "management." This early start in leadership was a testament to her formidable nature and set the stage for her trailblazing career on Wall Street.
Her career began in 1972 at Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. in the Human Resources department. In 1979, she moved to Wachovia Bank and played a pivotal role in building their Global Custody Services for U.S. Pension Funds. Wachovia then entrusted her with developing and managing a retail brokerage service across 200 North Carolina branches in just six months.
A pioneer in the brokerage industry, Jeanne built one of the first electronic trading systems at Morgan Stanley - Execution Services Inc. (ESI) in 1984. Her expertise elevated her to a leadership role as Vice Chairman at ConvergEx Group, which grew out of ESI after it had been acquired by the Bank of New York Mellon in 1997. For over 20 years, Jeanne traveled weekly between her home in Greensboro, North Carolina, and New York City to help build ESI/ConvergEx's business.
Alongside her remarkable professional achievements, Jeanne fought a 36-year battle with cancer, facing each diagnosis with resilience, perseverance, and unshakable faith that "God has the plan." Her inspiring no-fear attitude and refusal to feel sorry for herself during her battle served as a beacon of strength to all navigating life's adversities. Jeanne displayed enormous grace in her journey, exemplified by an unrelenting drive anchored in her faith.
Jeanne was known for her deeply faithful, generous spirit and unwavering commitment to her family and community. She was a proud Dame in the Order of Malta, making five trips to Lourdes as part of her commitment to spiritual development through personal service and sacrifice. The Order focuses on caring for those in poverty and illness.
She cherished her time with family and friends, whether traveling the world together or hosting gatherings. She found joy in baking cakes for others, walking, biking, taking photos, dining out, and being an active member of St. Pius X of Greensboro, NC, and St. Williams of Naples, FL.
Above all, family was Jeanne's greatest joy and most important priority in life. She is survived by her beloved husband of 49 years, Brendan; son Scott; son Tyler and daughter-in-law Jordan; grandchild Samuel; as well as siblings Mary Beth Geise of Greensboro, NC; Margaret Thornton of Charlotte, NC; Ray (Regina) Schwartz of Monroe, CT; John Schwartz of Charlotte, NC; Dr. James (Bernadette) Schwartz of Greensboro, NC; Anne (Dennis) Pawsat of Maysville, KY; Joe (Esther) Schwartz of Cary, NC; Tom (Lynn) Schwartz of Denver, NC; Bob Schwartz of Atlanta, GA; Paul (Dawn) Schwartz of Old Hickory, TN; half-sister Lucia Erwin of San Jose, CA and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 17 at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church located at 2210 N. Elm St. in Greensboro, NC, with Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio presiding. A reception will immediately follow the service at St. Pius. Please honor Jeanne by wearing something colorful on May 17th, whether you can join us or not.
There will also be a visitation on Thursday, May 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, 515 N Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Order of Malta, orderofmaltafederal.org/lourdes-endowment and to St. Pius X, stpiusxnc.com
Jeanne will be deeply missed by all touched by her spirit, unwavering faith, tireless work ethic, boundless love for her family, and generous heart. Her legacy inspires those battling cancer, women forging paths in business, and the countless lives she enriched in faith and generosity.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com
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