Jeannette Gregory Byington

Born: 25 March 1950; Tokyo, Japan

Father: James Gregory Byington;

Diamondhead, Mississippi

Mother: Barbara Treadwell (Deceased)

Brother: James (Jim) Gregory Byington Jr.; Norwalk, Ct.

Sister: Elizabeth (Betty) Borne; New Orleans, Louisiana

Schools: St. Thomas School for Girls, Darien, Ct.; Darien H.S., Darien, Ct.; University of Denver, Denver, Colorado

Profession: Veterinary Technician

Jean was born into a distinguished family of diplomats with careers of service with the U.S. Government dating back to the Civil War. Her grandfather, Homer Byington was Director of Personnel at the Department of State for decades and was lovingly known as "The Chief". Her Uncle served for many years as the U.S. Consul in Naples, Italy becoming almost a permanent fixture there. Her father also joined the Foreign Service after completing Yale and then took some time out to work with a young Pan American Airways and served as Director for Latin America under Juan Tripp until shortly before the end of WW II. Then he rejoined the Foreign Service and while serving as executive officer at a posting to Tokyo, Japan during the MacArthur reconstruction period, Jean was born. From Tokyo, Jean accompanied her parents on different assignments to Mexico and Portugal. Her father's position often allowed her to meet such notables as Walt Disney and John F. Kennedy just to name a few.

Following her father's retirement from the Foreign Service, the family moved back to Norwalk, Connecticut, the family seat, where Jeannette completed her schooling. Even as a young child, she was known for her love of animals. At 20 years old, she travelled to Puerto Rico where one of her Aunts was living to apply for a job as a stewardess with Pan Am. Instead, she got married to John Cullen, owner of a local fire protection company. She devoted her time to caring for animals on a full-time basis and became a leading race car driver and star tennis player in her spare time. For several years she served as Director of the Guaynabo Animal Shelter and completed her studies as a Veterinary Technician. She divorced in 1982 and after some traveling married her present husband. She has continued her devotion to animals and initiated the inclusion of an Animal Division in the Caribbean Recycling Foundation her husband created in 1994. She continues as the Division's head and a leading advocate for improving animal welfare.