Joan M. Lahr

Joan M. Lahr

SALISBURY — Joan M. Lahr, 96, passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2022, at her home in Lakewood Park, Fla.

Born May 25, 1925, in New York City, Joan attended Julia Richman H.S., and then earned a BA degree from Hunter College and an MA 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 U.S. military dependents.

After marriage, from 1961 to 1991 Joan lived in Salisbury, teaching at local public and private high schools.  She took 10 years from her professional work to stay at home and raise her children, and then retired after 13 years at the Marvelwood School in Cornwall.

She and her husband spent the next 10 years cruising the Caribbean in their 37-foot. Morgan ketch, GREY DOLPHIN, and traveling widely in Europe and the U.S. They purchased a home in Lakewood Park in 1991, as a base for their sailings.

Joan was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Lake–ville and St. Anastasia’s Church in Fort Pierce, Fla.

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; a brother, John; and her husband of 61 years, Joseph. She 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 Fort Pierce.

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