Jean Pablo, THS Founder

Jean Pablo (1932-2021), founder and long-time president of Tenleytown Historical Society, was a native Washingtonian and cared deeply about the city. She was also a founder, original president and long- time board member of the Friends of Tenley-Friendship Library and a member of the Ward 3 Democratic Committee during the Barry years.

Jean was tireless in her support and advocacy for the history of old Tenleytown, which included American University Park and Friendship Heights.

In 1988 when demolition was threatening the community, she was a primary organizer and founder of THS. There were times when interest in preservation flagged, but she didn’t give up.

Under Jean’s leadership, THS’s 2003 survey of Tenleytown’s buildings was completed and a number of successful nominations, including the multi-property nomination for the original houses in American University Park where she lived for many years, were added to the DC Inventory of Historic Sites.