Janet
What can I say about Joan? She was my hero. I remember the first time we met. I couldn't get over those big beautiful brown eyes and what a beautiful face! It seems we said 'I love your hair!' at the same time. She told me I had Botticelli hair. We were friends immediately. I didn't really know who she was until I began student teaching. It seems like from then on she was pretty much dealing with the principals that I had confronted… I was her neighbor for a short while. She always invited me, my daughter Mandy AND my dog Birtha, to her great parties. I remember all of the times she was the person I went to with my problems. She always listened and gave meaningful advice. I remember the many hours of writing curriculum with her and other art teachers. And I remember her smile and the times we laughed so hard, usually at some sort of folly. What a woman. What a brilliant, beautiful, courageous, compassionate, powerful woman. She was a saint and she was my friend.