Joan M. Lahr

May 25, 1925 - January 4, 2022

Joan M. Lahr, 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at her home in Lakewood Park, FL. Born May 25, 1925, in New York City, Joan attended Julia Richman H.S., and then earned a B.A. degree from Hunter College and an M.A. degree from Columbia University in Romance languages and linguistics. Her diploma from Columbia was signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as president of the school before he became President of the U.S. A love of travel and adventure led her to teach in public high schools in Nevada (witnessing an atomic bomb explosion), California and Florida. In 1953 she spent the year at Itazuke Air Force Base, Fukuoka, Japan, teaching US military dependents. After marriage, from 1961-1991 Joan lived in Salisbury, Connecticut, teaching at local public and private high schools. She took ten years from her professional work to stay at home and raise her children, and then retired after 13 years at Marvelwood School, Cornwall, CT. She and her husband spent the next ten years cruising the Caribbean in their 37ft. Morgan ketch GREY DOLPHIN, and traveling widely in Europe and the US. They purchased a home in Lakewood Park, FL in 1991, as a base for their sailings. Joan was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville, CT., and St Anastasia’s Church in Fort Pierce, FL. Joan did various types of community service in her lifetime: president of the Lakeville Council of Catholic Women, officer of the Salisbury Republican Women’s Club; dog socializing at Vero Beach Humane Society, aide at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, clerical aide at Fort Pierce Police Station, shelter work for Fort Pierce American Red Cross, and as St. Lucie Co. election official. She had many interests including: classical music and opera, reading, linguistics, history and geography, geology, handwork-knitting, and embroidery. Joan was preceded in death by her parents John and Marie Handschin, brother John and her husband of 61 years, Joseph, and is survived by their five children John, Ronald, Anne, Daniel and Edward, and grandchildren Jake and Luke. She was a moral and spiritual woman and loved her family dearly…a true Lady. She will be missed. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Haisley Funeral & Cremation in FT. Pierce, FL.