I was gutted to har of Joan's passing. I was not fortunate enough to know her well but I was fortunate with my wife Helen (their niece) to go and stay with John and Joan back in 2007. They were wonderful hosts and it was during this time I was struck by Joan's intelligence, passion and humour and the beautiful life she and John shared. We spent two wonderful weeks in Boston and from that time I have two personal memories of Joan that have stayed with me. The first was a trip the four of us took to Provincetown to see the annual Waterfire festival. the event itself was brilliant but my memories of Joan centre around her humour which kept us going when John got lost and took us on a bit of a hike trying to find a particular restaurant and her making me a superb playlist of some of the music we heard at the event in the car on the way home.
The second is of Joan trying to educate me on the intricacies of baseball late one evening. She made a previously unfathomable game interesting and engaging to watch, though I believe it was more about her company, her insights and humour than the game itself.
Both Helen and I always believed we would visit again, you always think there will be time.....
My heart goes out to John who must feel like he's missing a major part of himself, and to all Joan's family and friends for whom the world has gotten just a little bit darker...