Jennene A. Bach

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Jennene A. Bach, 64, formerly of Ironwood, Mich., died at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, after a long illness.

She was born July 10, 1949, in Ironwood, the daughter of Eugene and Mary Asplund of 1109 Celia St. Jennene attended Michigan State University, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in retail management in 1971. She later earned an Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in 1991 with a concentration in accounting and finance. After completing the Federated Department Store, Inc. executive training program, she held management positions at Federated’s Abraham and Straus and Bloomingdale’s Divisions in New York.

In 1982 she joined the New Canaan Board of Education as a library assistant during the relocation to the new junior high school library. In 1987 she joined the New Canaan Bank and Trust Company as a vacation replacement clerk. She was ultimately promoted to vice president and controller until the bank’s merger with Summit Bank of New Jersey. Prior to the merger, she was selected by the bank to participate in the Williams College-New England School of Banking General Banking Program, graduating in 1990. Jennene also served on the board of directors (treasurer) of the New Canaan Inn, a nonprofit assisted living facility, and a trustee of the Lockwood Matthews Mansion Historical Trust in Norwalk, Conn.

Jennene moved to Alexandria, Va., when her husband was posted to Washington, D.C. While serving as a board member of her condominium association, she created and provided social activities and service opportunities for her community. She retired to Portsmouth in 2005, where she volunteered at the Discover Portsmouth Center and served as treasurer of the Victorian Estates condominium.

Jennene is survived by her husband, Robert M. Bach, of Portsmouth; her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, Christopher A. Bach, Diana M. Bach and Theodore M. Bach, of New Canaan, Conn .; her three brothers and sister, Ralph Asplund, of Marlboro, Mass., David Asplund, of Champlin, Minn., and Dr. Terrence Asplund and Charmaine Chiantello, both of Ironwood.

Services and internment were private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting a charity of the donor’s choice in Jennene’s memory.