Janet G. Ingraffea

Janet Godersky Ingraffea of Ithaca, NY, died of a sudden illness on September 15, 2022 in Sayre, PA.
Janet was born in Indianapolis, IN, on August 30, 1947, the daughter of two doctors, George and Lois
Godersky. Her fondest memories of childhood were the summers she spent on her grandparents’ farm
in Flora, Indiana. She is survived by her husband Dr. Anthony Ingraffea of Ithaca, NY; her children Adam
(Edith) of Cary, NC; Nathan (Jennifer) of Portland, OR; Sarah of Washington, DC; and Rachel of
Scottsdale, AZ; sister Christine (Philip) Gubbins; younger brother Dr. John Godersky (Barbara Covey), and
younger sister Andrea (Thomas) Bose. She was preceded in death by her youngest brother Peter
Godersky. She is also survived by her four beloved grandchildren Max, Eli, Alex, and Elena.
Janet graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Political Science. While in college, her
roommate introduced her to the love of her life, Anthony, who was studying at the University of Notre
Dame in Janet’s home town of South Bend.  After graduation in 1969, they married and moved to New
York City where Janet began what would be the first of her many jobs as an accountant for General
Motors while Anthony worked for Grumman Aerospace.  She prepared for her second job studying
special education at Fordham University. In 1971 Janet and Tony set off on the adventure of a lifetime
by joining the Peace Corps. Their Spanish language training was done in Puerto Rico and they served for
two years in rural Venezuela where Janet created a daycare center for Indigenous mothers. The family
eventually settled in Ithaca, New York. In the 1980’s she and Susan Hatch co-founded Citizens’
Concerned for Children Placement, acting as child advocates before Family Court. Janet began 3 years of
intense studies in biochemistry at Cornell in 1988. She went on to work for Cornell and she was truly
thankful to Professors Bretcher and Lis who gave her the freedom to teach and research in their
biochem labs for nearly 20 years. After retiring from Cornell, Janet decided on a final career and enrolled
at Tompkins Cortland Community College to become an RN at age 64. After graduating top of her class
she then became a volunteer nurse for the Ithaca Free Clinic. She also volunteered for the United Way
of Tompkins County, Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County, and St. Catherine’s Church for many years.
Janet loved quilting and donated almost all of her beautiful works to local causes.
Private services were held at the Greensprings Natural Cemetery on September 18, 2022. Please
consider a donation in Janet’s name to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
at birds.cornell.edu/tribute. She loved walking in those woods and a memorial bench will be placed
there in her honor.