Jeannine M. Acevedo

Jeannine Acevedo

1968—2023

Jeannine Marie Strnisa Acevedo died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Amsterdam, New York, on March 12, 2023, following a courageous 15-month battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Aaron Acevedo, Jeannine’s loving husband of thirty-two years, was at her side.

Jeannine was born in Schenectady, NY, in 1968 to her parents Fred and Diana Strnisa. She and her sisters grew up in the small town of Pattersonville in Upstate New York. After receiving a degree in Education from SUNY Cobleskill, Jeannine worked as a teacher and nanny for many years before returning to college to gain a second degree in Electrical Engineering. Her skill for calibrating and repairing both medical and agricultural equipment resulted in her being classified as an essential worker during the pandemic.

Jeannine was fiercely smart but never lead with it. She’d laugh at the top of her lungs at a good joke, could swear like a sailor, and was the kind of friend who would drive through a storm to bring you a hot meal. She cared passionately about her community and volunteered for children’s education programs and would sit vigil for patients during hospice. Jeannine loved animals and she and Aaron’s house was often home to injured birds and other small creatures Jeannine nursed until they were well. Her beloved dog Jackson and cat Loki tolerated this as best they could.

Jeannine met Aaron at a party, where they each arrived on separate dates. Once this nonsense was sorted out they were married in 1990, just as Aaron was preparing to head to Navy boot camp. Their shared love of tabletop and video games resulted in Aaron founding Sigil Entertainment in 2005. Jeannine was fiercely proud of the company they built together, and Aaron will be forever grateful for his wife’s loyalty and unwavering support which enabled him to pursue his dream of a creative career.

Jeannine adored her family. She and Aaron settled in Amsterdam, NY, in 2014 to be close to both of their families. This was a great blessing when Jeannine was diagnosed with glioblastoma in November 2021. With their loving support, Jeannine underwent eight weeks of radiation treatment and twelve rounds of chemotherapy. Aaron sold his business to care for his wife full-time. Family members cooked meals, drove Jeannine to medical appointments, and helped keep her spirits up as the disease progressed. Together the extended Strnisa and Acevedo families took care of their beautiful girl, a beloved wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, and aunt, until the end.

Jeannine will be missed by her parents, her sisters Jeanette Sinkora and Jennifer Tung and their families, her parents-in-law Hector and Diane Acevedo, and Neal and Patricia Klein, and their large and loving families. She will also be missed by her many close and dear friends. Aaron would like to thank Dr. Susan Weaver and Dr. Maria Arsyl de Jesus for their outstanding and compassionate care of his wife.

Aaron will never forget the moment thirty years ago when he saw Jeannine at the railway station in Marseille, France. He was on leave from his deployment aboard the USS John F. Kennedy and Jeannine had flown across the Atlantic to meet him. It was the early 1990s, a world without cell phones, so when Jeannine’s train pulled into the station without her, Aaron had no way of knowing what had happened. He waited until after dark when the final train pulled in. And suddenly there was his lovely young wife on the platform, dropping her bags and running toward him. She had missed her connection and traveled hours out of her way to reach her husband because nothing would ever stop Jeannine Acevedo from being with the people she loved.

A private service will be held for Jeannine in Amsterdam, NY. A tree-planting ceremony in her honor is planned for spring. Further details will be announced at a later date. Donations may be sent to Bobby Jones Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation.