Janet Gans

Deborah Gans and Noah Gans-Pfister are deeply saddened to announce the death of Janet Lee Fishman Gans of Woodbridge. Born in New Haven to Esther Aaronson Fishman and Jacob Benjamin Fishman, she attended Hillhouse High School and matriculated from the Prospect Hill School to Wellesley College, where she studied English, graduating in 1952. Janet returned to Southern CT State College to earn a master’s degree in English literature, writing her thesis on the eighteenth century novel Tristram Shandy by Lawrence Sterne. For over twenty years, she taught reading and other subjects of special education in the Ansonia Public School System. She retired to expand her opportunity to travel, which she loved.

Janet was the loving spouse of Norman Gans and mother of Elizabeth Gans, both of whom preceded her in death, as did her brother Michael Fishman. Her partner late in life, Morton Losher, died in 2024. She was the beloved mother of Deborah Gans and Noah Gans-Pfister and their spouses James Garrison and Francesca Gans-Pfister and grandmother of Elena Gans-Pfister, Raffaele Gans- Pfister, and Emma Considine.

Funeral Services were held at Mishkan Israel Cemetery Chapel, 701 Whalley Ave., New Haven on Monday January 5th at 11:00 am. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Mishkan Israel’s Norman Gans Memorial Youth Fund.