Jayne Adams Shannon Rodriguez touched the world through passion for dolphins, marine life
They say that if you pursue your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life. Many believe that single acts of kindness pay forward a never ending line of goodness, touching lives in ways you’ll never know. That those who spend their lives doing good, touching others, making a difference in the world, will be rewarded in ways never imagined and without a price tag.
Though I’d only met her briefly, I’d be willing to bet that those three statements describe Jayne Adams Shannon Rodriguez to the letter.
While you’ve likely never heard of Jayne, unless of course you’re a member of Dolphin Research Center in Florida, one of the many people who’ve worked with her, or simply visited DRC on a vacation, you likely know of her work.
That’s because, while DRC is situated on a sandy outcrop of island paradise in the Florida Keys, Jayne, her partner Mandy, and the work they do at DRC have touched lives around the world.
The dolphin family at Dolphin Research Center lives out their lives protected and cared for, while educating the public about these amazing mammals & their environment. Photo courtesy of Dolphin Research Center.
Caring for and researching dolphins in human-care is the foundational element to DRC. Dolphins born and raised in human care are a part of this marine mammal family, along with a few funny & playful sea lions. Additionally, based on the original capture of a dolphin the world came to know as “Flipper” and that dolphin lineage, DRC has a long history of marine mammal knowledge, family trees, and educating the public.
What the folks at DRC have learned radiates out, playing a role in the care and knowledge we have of dolphins worldwide. It aides in rescue and rehabilitation, and it helps us to understand these amazing and brilliant creatures, allowing humans to help where needed, protect where required, and build a future where these and other marine mammals still grace planet earth.
Along with learning about the dolphins, DRC has used their dolphin family to help humans, mainly through their animal-assisted therapy programs.
Interacting directly with the dolphin residents of DRC is an important element of learning to care. Through one of many dolphin interaction programs, everyday people will learn to love & care about dolphins and their world. Photo Courtesy of Dolphin Research Center.
By creating interactions between the dolphins and adults and children with mental and physical challenges, the DRC dolphins open up worlds and create communication where perhaps none lie before.
Through their educational efforts, DRC has brought to thousands of visitors from around the world, a love, understanding, and desire to protect our world’s oceans, to conserve the very world where marine mammals live, and to treat these animals with respect, bettering our world.
On Monday, February 22, 2010, Jayne passed away following a short illness.
While her work will go on through those who loved and respected her, Jayne’s loss will be deeply felt. She was at the heart of the DRC mission, giving her life to the care and understanding of dolphins and other marine life, and bringing a message of hope and conservation to everyday citizens, hoping to make a real difference in the world.
A single visit to DRC will demonstrate the success that she and Mandy have achieved.
I only met Jayne once, briefly, while on my DolphinLab week at DRC. That week touched me, changed my life, and gave me a chance to interact with dolphins in ways I’d only dreamed of.
I am but one of so many, and its because of Jayne and Mandy, their family, staff and volunteers, and of course the dolphins and sea lions that so many the world round will continue the mission started at DRC.
I’m including here the obituary for Jayne, as it shares the life of this woman who made a difference in her time on earth. May we all learn and live by her example. Rest in peace Jayne, and know that your life truly made a difference.
Jayne Adams Shannon Rodriguez
Marathon … Jayne Adams Shannon Rodriguez, 59, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Dolphin Research Center, passed away after a short illness on Monday, February 22, 2010 at Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL.
Jayne was a loving, devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, partner, leader, mentor and friend. She is survived by: daughters Kelly Jayne and Shannon Rodriguez; partner Mandy Rodriguez; granddaughters Madison, Rylee, and Skyler; grandson Bryson; brothers and sisters William L. Shannon, Jr. (and wife Helen Kampion), of Wayland, MA; Sharon Shannon Kissane (and husband James J. Kissane) of Wayland, MA, Elizabeth C. Shannon Kilburn of Wayland, MA, David F. Shannon (and wife Rhonda Shannon) of Ashland, MA, Christopher K. Shannon (and wife Gaye) of Uxbridge, MA, and Timothy R. Shannon (and wife Christine) of Framingham, MA; and 18 nieces and nephews; as well as by the entire DRC family of dolphins, sea lions, staff and volunteers who were blessed to have Jayne in their lives. She was pre-deceased by son Shawn and parents William L. Shannon and Elizabeth F. (Kinder) Shannon.
Born on December 19, 1950, in Wayland, MA, Jayne graduated from Wayland High School and Kathryn Gibbs Secretarial School. In 1971, she was picked to become the New England Aquarium’s (NEA) first female sea lion trainer. As a result, she appeared on the popular television shows To Tell the Truth, What’s My Line, and I’ve Got a Secret.
She and partner Armando “Mandy” Rodriguez first came to Marathon in 1973 to Flipper’s Sea School to assist with dolphins that were being transferred to the NEA. They were so impressed with the natural surroundings for the dolphins that they remained in the Florida Keys and Jayne acted as a trainer, narrator and Director of Husbandry for Flipper’s Sea School. When the facility was sold and became the Institute for Delphinid Research in 1977, Jayne became the General Manager.
In 1984, Jayne and Mandy formed the not-for-profit corporation of the Dolphin Research Center. Their goal was to ensure a permanent, safe home for the dolphins and sea lions and to educate people around the world about these amazing animals and the ocean environment.
Jayne’s leadership style combined hands-on guidance with open-hearted caring, a non-nonsense attitude, with generous support and encouragement. Her tremendous spirit and determination inspired everyone who was part of DRC and helped to make them not only a staff, but also a family.
Jayne also grew to be a formidable force in the marine mammal community in general. Through her involvement with the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, she represented DRC’s position and expertise on critical, government-related issues affecting dolphins and other marine mammals in human care as well as in the wild.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 13th from 3:30 pm to 6:00 p.m. at Dolphin Research Center, mm 59, Grassy Key. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in Jayne’s name has been established at Dolphin Research Center.
