Dr Jennie (Jennifer) Turner

It is with great sadness that college learned of the death of Associate Fellow Dr Jennie Turner this week.

Jennie was a greatly valued member of Green then Green Templeton College, first as a Common Room Member, then as an Honorary Visiting Fellow, and, since 2011, as an Associate Fellow.

Jennie generously supported events such as concerts by Musician-in-Residence Maki Sekiya and organised a Christmas fair for a number of years. She was a stalwart participant in academic and social events, including at a variety of dinners for fellows and the wider college community. She was generous with her warmth and time, inviting students to her home and welcoming visitors from the college’s partners at the Kawasaki Gakuen on numerous occasions.

Jennie’s late husband Professor Robert Turner was a Founding Fellow of Green College. Following his death in 1999, Jennie supported a Robert Turner Research Associate, which is awarded to a postgraduate physician or postgraduate scientist, coming to Oxford from outside the UK and researching in the field of diabetes or related disciplines in memory of Professor Robert Turner. Min Gao (Vivian) is the most recent Robert Turner Research Associate.

Within the wider university, Jennie was a long-standing supporter of the Oxford Newcomers’ club, where she was a past chair. She also had a great love of the Botanic Garden and Arboretum where she formed and organised for many years the Bobarts Patron Group.

Our thoughts are with Jennie’s family and friends at this time.

Tributes from colleagues

“I had the pleasure to get to know Jennie Turner when I was appointed the Robert Turner Research Associate in 2012. I was coming to Oxford from Austria; hence, a College system was entirely new to me. Jennie spent patiently hours in explaining me the University structure and life in Oxford, but more importantly she brought me in contact to numerous people in and outside Green Templeton College. I had the pleasure to attend a number of College dinners with her, where we had stimulating discussions not only about my research topics in diabetology or politics but also about family matters, as she also knew my wife from the Newcomers’ club. Moving abroad is always a big step for a young family, but Jennie supported us tremendously and helped to make our years in Oxford unforgettable.”
Harald Sourij

“No words can match the significant loss of Jennie Turner as a devoted patroness of academic studies. Countless students have seen their careers boosted by her patronage and all of them have been welcomed into the Oxonian halls by her kind presence. Personally, I will always keep her memory high when asked about the year I spent as a Green College Robert Turner Fellow. Then and now, thank you, dear Jenny”
Patricia Pérez-Matute

“My wife and I met Jennie Turner in 2005 when we arrived in Oxford supported by the Robert Turner Research Associateship. Right from our first meeting, she took us under her wing and made us feel welcome and at home. She was so warm and generous in showing us an Oxford experience that we cherish to this day, including trips to the Cotswolds, picnics, and dinner at Green College. We particularly enjoyed the many lovely evenings that we spent at her home amidst the backdrop of her amazing garden. Indeed, she even invited us to spend Christmas Day at her home that year with her family. She made a truly indelible impression on us and we are so very thankful for the time that we spent with her and the opportunity to be touched by her warmth and kindness. We will miss her.”
Ravi Retnakaran

“Jennie was the first person I met in Oxford when she invited me for lunch at the college when I arrived from Australia as the 2013 Robert Turner Research Associate. This was my first time in an Oxford college and she made me feel very welcome. I remember it being a particularly chilly March day, yet over a hot lunch in the dining room, her welcoming conversation and interest in my work soon put me at ease.

“Over the years we got to know each other through college events, dinners and lectures and meeting other Robert Turner Research Associates. We always made a point of finding each other at college events to have a good catch up about life, our families, research and gardening. Jennie was a fantastic gardener and always had good advice for a novice like myself. Her garden was spectacular in summer and gave her a great deal of pleasure as well as brought joy to many others through her participation in the annual NGS open days.

“My year as the Robert Turner Research Associate introduced me to college life and Jennie supported my appointment a few years later to become a Research Fellow. Being based at the John Radcliffe site, if it were not for Jennie, I doubt I would have been exposed to the richness of college life and I am eternally thankful to her for giving me the opportunity to be part of the GTC community.

“She will be greatly missed as a colleague, mentor and friend.”
Jane Hirst 

“As a Robert Turner Research Sssociate, I had a very close relationship with Jennie. For someone who came from another country to do research in Oxford, this fellowship was a great opportunity for development as a fellow but also as a human.

“I had been RTRA back in 2011 for more than a year. I have to say that being Robert Turner Research associate was a great honour for me. It gave me the opportunity to have a College affiliation and this came with a strong feeling that I belonged to an academic family. I met very interesting, intelligent people at the college and I was able to experience how different the academic life in Oxford is. I had the opportunity to participate in many interesting events and dinners. Jennie quite often invited me to the college for lunch or dinner. Such nice nights in the Observatory!

“Jennie and I were in close contact and I hardly remember any Christmas without having been with my family in her house. I finally stayed in Oxford and now I am working as a consultant in acute medicine and ambulatory care at the John Radcliffe Hospital, collaborating closely with the diabetes team and creating pathways for better management of diabetic patients. Jennie was one of the people that has influenced my decision to stay in Oxford. She will be missed not only by me but also by my family.”
Kiki Marinou

Please let Gillian Cane know if you would like to pass messages or tributes to Jennie’s family. Once restrictions are lifted Green Templeton will provide opportunity to come together and celebrate Jennie’s life and contribution together.