Jara Nemcova Burnett, 89, of Riverside, Connecticut passed away peacefully at home on November 17, 2025, surrounded by family after a brief and dignified battle with recurrent follicular lymphoma.
Jara was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on November 21, 1935, to Josef and Marie Nemec (nee Karlikova). It was an idyllic childhood until her father’s vocal anti-Communist beliefs required his immediate defection in October 1949. On Christmas night, at just fourteen years old, Jara bravely led her mother and three younger siblings across an active border into West Germany, escaping Prague’s new Communist regime and reunifying the family. They temporarily settled in Nice, France and emigrated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1952.
Upon completion of the International Baccalaureate program at Montreal’s College International Marie de France in 1957, Jara traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts where she completed the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration (1958-1959). While there, a blind date was arranged with Charles Donald Burnett, a recent Harvard University graduate serving with The Army of The United States at Fort Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts. After a brief courtship, they were married on September 5, 1959, in Montreal and had three children, Katherine, Kristina, and Misa. One year later, Don embarked on a career in management consulting requiring the family to move frequently. They resided in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Rockville, Maryland, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and Kenilworth, Illinois before settling in Riverside in 1977 where Jara spent the next forty-eight years.
While in Greenwich, Jara committed herself to a life of service and volunteerism. Because of her early exposure to communism, she was a staunch advocate for democracy. She joined the League of Women Voters (LWV) and lobbied for open government, government accountability, voting rights, access to education, and voter registration. Jara held numerous positions at the LWV, including two terms each as President of the LWV of Connecticut and President of the LWV of Greenwich (LWVG).
She never took her right to vote for granted and strongly encouraged her children and others to vote, even if their views were in opposition.
Jara also served as an elected member of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation, the Representative Town Meeting and held various Board positions at Greenwich Adult Day Care, the Greenwich Youth Shelter, and the Riverside Association.
She was twice co-President of the Greenwich High School PTA and drove an ambulance for the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service. She rarely turned down an opportunity to serve.
For her civic efforts, Jara received numerous awards including: The Greenwich YWCA “Spirit of Greenwich” Award (1994) for her community involvement and commitment to the election process and other community issues; The Mary Award (2010) which honors a long-term LWVG member who has actively promoted its mission; The Liberty Bell/Law Day USA Award (2017) for her work as a non-attorney benefiting the legal community; and The Burnett Award (2019) established in her name to recognize a long standing member who has made significant contributions, including their time, actions, talents, and dedication to the LWVG.
Jara had many lifelong friends. Whether playing competitive tennis and platform tennis at Innis Arden Golf Club, enjoying concerts at Lincoln Center, attending tennis matches at the US Open, hosting wedding brunches for the children of friends, throwing festive parties including her annual New Year’s Eve gathering, or enjoying lively discussions over glasses of her favorite chardonnay, Jara was happiest when in their company. This love of spending time with friends included travel, where together they shared frequent skiing adventures out West, explored numerous places throughout the world, and experienced Jara-led walking tours throughout her cherished Prague. She was an adventurous travel companion, a welcoming and gracious host and a devoted friend.
Most of all, Jara took great joy in spending time with her family, all of whom enjoyed visiting the private oasis she and Don created in Riverside. Here, her children and grandchildren would gather and make memories, including those from a grandson’s recent backyard wedding. Jara insisted on serving meals in the dining room every night, hosting elaborate Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve feasts and encouraging thoughtful and spirited discussion. To share her passion for travel, she organized various international trips with family and took her grandchildren to Prague and France, intentionally exposing them to her early cultures and life experiences. She took interest in watching their development and was a constant source of support, strength, guidance and generosity to them all. She will be forever missed.
Jara was predeceased by her beloved husband of sixty-five years who she cared for at home for eight years prior to his death in 2024, daughter Katherine Enquist, sister Marie Banerjee, brother Joseph Nemec, and brothers-in-law Robert deFougerolles and Ron Banerjee. She leaves behind her loving children Kristina Baldwin (Edwin Jr) and Misa Burnett (Sarah), son-in-law John Enquist, grandchildren Annabel Middleton (Matthew), Edwin Baldwin III (Rebecca), John Enquist Jr (Abigail), Anne Baldwin, Elizabeth and Sasha Burnett, and great-grandchildren Rose and George Middleton. She is also survived by her sister Lida deFougerolles, sister-in-law Judy Nemec and many nephews.
A celebration of Jara’s life will be held at Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, Connecticut on Saturday, November 22 at 2:00pm. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.