Wife of Bank One patriarch dies at 91 in Michigan

Jeanne B. McCoy, 91, wife of Bank One patriarch John G. McCoy and mother of former company chairman John B. McCoy and a daughter, Virginia, died Tuesday in Wequetonsing, Mich. She had suffered from a long illness.

Mrs. McCoy was a philanthropist, and although not involved in the banking business, she was a "very supportive wife and mother," John B. McCoy said yesterday. "She created a nice balance between my father and myself" when they had disagreements about the business.

He added that his mother was a steadying influence and "always very positive. She was a glass-half-full kind of person."

Mrs. McCoy was born Feb.6, 1915, in Columbus, the daughter of Frank and Florence Bonnet.

Her father rose from an apprentice at the former Buckeye Steel Castings to become its president in 1948 and chairman in 1960. He died two years later.

Mrs. McCoy graduated from Bexley High School and then attended Ohio State University, where she graduated in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in English.

She married John G. McCoy in 1941 and "provided great support" for her husband as he built the scrappy, local City National Bank & Trust Co. into the large Bank One, said former company spokesman John Russell.

"In the early days, before we were a big company, there used to be dinners for the executives at John G.'s house, and Jeanne was a wonderful hostess," Russell said.

Mrs. McCoy and her husband most recently lived in New Albany, and they were active supporters of Ohio State, particularly in cancer research and the colleges of business, medicine and human ecology.

In 1994, she gave a $1.2 million gift to her alma mater to underwrite the Jeanne Bonnet McCoy Presidential Scholars Fund.

In appreciation for her support, in 1995 Ohio State presented Mrs. McCoy with an honorary degree in humane letters.

"She always appreciated what education did for her, and that's why she got involved in helping Ohio State bring in outstanding scholars," her son said. "She believed that what these students accomplished would rub off on everyone else."

Mrs. McCoy was a voracious reader and was very interested in the liberal arts and horticulture, John B. McCoy said.

She also was involved in numerous charities and civic and arts organizations. She was a charter member of the Women's Board of the Columbus Museum of Art and was an honorary life member of the Inniswood Garden Society Board.

She attended St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Bexley.

John G. and Jeanne McCoy received many awards as a couple in recent years, including American Red Cross of Greater Columbus Humanitarian of the Year and Jewish National Fund Tree of Life award for community involvement.

They also are the namesakes for an award given annually by the New Albany Community Foundation to someone who has had a positive impact on that community.

In addition to her husband, son and daughter, Mrs. McCoy leaves a daughter-in-law, Jane McCoy, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her parents and two sisters, Anne Hoster and Virginia Shawan, preceded her in death.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.