Carol Holzgrafe   

Well, Joanne has left us. Gone is her quick but gentle wit, the sight of her grabbing, with both hands, any adventure happening by, and her unnatural determination to finish Gödel, Escher, Bach; The Age of Decadence; and Sylvia Plath.

Carol & Joanne snowshoeing in Bear Valley

Jo absolutely adored Tales of Hoffmann (she was alone in this), and Wagner’s Ring Cycle, enjoyed most kinds of music and worked to make the harmonica and ukulele her own. She read serious books instead of wimping out toward mysteries which I sometimes do. She skied almost to her 90s, hiked and snowshoed after that.

Jo and I traveled together quite often (Alaska, Italy, England, the Netherlands, and more) and played a lot (at her place in Bear Valley and further afield). I was always trying to catch up as she sprinted ahead. This was good for my character and my soul.

Susan & Joanne at the 2022 AAUW Holiday Party

Since I hang out at the Rifes’ quite a lot, I saw how her family cared for her as she declined in health – but almost never in spirit or faculties. Jo’s daughter Susan mounted a super-human effort, day and night, to make her mom’s life as comfortable as possible. This involved plenty of physical and emotional care; it was not easy. Susan’s husband Stephen provided back up. Family members dropped in for visits, catching up, laughing a lot but, really, saying the hard goodbye.

Jo’s family loved and appreciated what a remarkable person she was so, whatever she needed, she got. Except time, of course.

Joanne knew the value of friendship; she knew how to make it happen; she was my friend and I will never forget her.

Elizabeth Mandel

Joanne enjoyed poetry. I laughed until it hurt at her goofy declamation (of I don’t know what) at Evening Books. But, seriously, what could be more Joanne than Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Joanne and I bonded over many common interests: We traveled to China together, we loved books and the theater, and we had a shared passion for high mountains. What I will remember most about Joanne is the lessons she offered by example every day: to pay attention and to appreciate life to its fullest.

Joanne used to lead the “Hikers Unanimous” Interest Group (2011 Calero County Park)

Joanne & Elizabeth in China – 2011

“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.” – from Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes”.

Marcia Fishman

One of the smartest things I did when I moved to Morgan Hill was eavesdrop on a conversation with Joanne and someone else about the symphony (Symphony Silicon Valley) – and I asked if I could join in – barely knowing her. My audacity awarded me a wonderful opportunity to have gained such a special friend.

Carol O’Hare

I first met Joanne when I joined Evening Books in 1999. I quickly learned that Joanne made everything more fun and interesting if she was involved, whether discussing books, riding bicycles, sharing a meal, visiting friends, or just chatting. She was a great role model for how to make the most out of life, no matter what comes along.

Joanne and Carol (with Carol H behind the camera) on a recent lunch with Barbara Palmer and Carolyn Wilson

With the Ukuladies at the 2013 Holiday Party

Donna Dicker

For myself and other members of our branch, Joanne embodied the AAUW spirit. She was intelligent; she was interesting; she was energetic. But, best of all, she had a wonderful sense of humor.