July 31, 1921 – August 14, 2017

Jane Nicolet Toal, 96, of Annapolis and formerly Riverdale, Maryland, died peacefully on August 14, 2017 at Assisted Living Well in Severna Park, Maryland, where she resided during her last years. Born on July 31, 1921 in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the elder of two children of Kathryn Hasley Nicolet and Ben H. Nicolet (both deceased).

Jane earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Pre-Medical Studies in 1943 at Oberlin College, in Ohio, and obtained her Master of Science degree in Chemistry at Cornell University Medical School in New York City. She had a productive career working for over 30 years as a chemist. She was employed briefly (1946-47) at the Rutgers University Bureau of Biology in New Jersey before returning to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to join the professional staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda. From 1947 until 1977, she worked on structural studies of RNA and DNA at NIH's Department of Biology and its Cancer Institute.

Although Jane found her professional work intellectually challenging, she actively pursued many other interests. Chief among them were horses and horseback riding. Jane was an early member of the Iron Bridge Hunt (Laurel, MD) and served as "Whipper-In" for Iron Bridge from 1962 until 1986 when the Iron Bridge Hunt merged with the Howard County Hunt. Jane remained active with the Howard County Hunt until nearly age 90, remaining until the time of her death an Emeritus Member of that group.

Jane was an active member of Trail Riders of Today (TROT), a trail riding association sponsoring recreational horseback riding and the volunteerism necessary to support the sport, the League of Maryland Horsemen and the Maryland Horse Council. In 2010, Jane received the Pumphrey Memorial Reward for volunteerism, recognizing her nearly 50 years of service to the sport of Maryland trail riding.

Jane devoted a large part of her life to the Girl Scouts of America (GSA). Jane's membership in GSA began with the Washington, D.C. Chapter. She obtained "Golden Eaglet" status in 1939 upon graduation from high school. After her college and graduate school years, she renewed her active Girl Scout ties by associating with the Mariner Girl Scout Troop of Bethesda, serving as Leader of that troop from 1964-1977.

Jane was also a longtime Member of the National Carousel Association, a group formed for the purpose of learning about, enjoying and preserving America's historic carousels. This membership enabled Jane's interests in horses and the Girl Scouts to intersect. Every Spring until approximately age 90, Jane was in charge of the Girl Scout volunteers who performed the annual "Polishing of the Brass" of the historic Glen Echo Carousel and its beautifully carved horses and other animals. Jane loved to ride the carousel horses almost as much as she loved riding real horses.

Jane made friends everywhere and she would be the first to say that they rounded out her life. Jane lived as an extension of the Girl Scout Song which encouraged Scouts to "make new friends, but keep the old--one is silver and the other is gold." She also kept the Girl Scout Slogan "do a good turn daily'' close to her heart.

Married briefly in her early years, she had no children. Jane is survived by a sister, Nancy Nicolet Vineberg of Carmel, CA; and a niece, Dr. Susan Vineberg of Detroit, MI. Jane also leaves behind an extended family including Tracey Kirchoff (husband Brian) of Severna Park, MD, and numerous cousins and friends.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2017 from 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com