Joan grew up in Maine and graduated from the University of Maine, Orono.  After teaching in Connecticut and Florida she went into DODDS in 1964. Her first assignment was Babenhausen, Germany, then to Rhein Main Air Base.  She transferred to Tyler School, Naha Air Base, Okinawa in 1969, then returned to Rhein Main for the decade of the seventies.  In 1980 she returned to Okinawa where she taught at Makiminato, then Bob Hope Primary School.  All teaching was in the primary sector, grades one to three.  In 1993 she joined the Reading Recovery initiative where she remained until retirement in 2001.  Before retirement she returned to Germany and finished teaching at Sembach Elementary School.

 

Now retired in Sarasota, Florida, time is spent with the many Sarasota retirees, entertaining visitors, enjoying the cultural events of Sarasota, and as much travel as possible to all interesting places of the world!