Franziska Naughton

Franziska (Joy) Ballin Naughton died on December 22, 2019 at the age of 94 in Encinitas, California. While Joy was in remarkably good physical and mental health throughout her first nine decades, she suffered from dementia and Alzheimers in her final years.

Joy was born in Chicago IL on April 17, 1925. The family moved to Houston, Texas in 1930 to stay with extended family when her father lost his job in the Great Depression. The family returned to the south side of Chicago in 1936. Joy attended Calumet High School in Chicago. At the age of 15, Joy was hit by a car while crossing the street. This was a severe accident and Joy was in a coma for four weeks. Nonetheless, Joy was able to make an almost complete recovery, although her hearing was damaged in one ear. Joy would ultimately graduate as class valedictorian at Calumet. While at Calumet HS, she met her future husband, Thomas Francis Naughton.

After graduation, Joy attended the University of Chicago for two years. With the nation embroiled in World War II, Joy worked for a year inspecting motor cylinder heads for Boeing B-29 bombers.

Joy and Tom married in September 1947. In the early years of marriage, the family lived on the south side of Chicago while Tom completed his engineering degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology on the GI bill. Joy's first two sons were born in Chicago, and they bought a small house in the brand new suburb of Park Forest, IL.

In 1952, Tom accepted a remarkable job opportunity to relocate to London, England. The young family moved to London and spent four years discovering that ancient and cosmopolitan city, while raising a growing family. Joy's last two sons were born in England. Tom and Joy were able to enjoy trips across the United Kingdom and to continental Europe (Italy, France and Germany).

The family came back the US in 1956, and returned to Park Forest. Tom commuted to the city while Joy raised the children. They established a strong bond with the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and especially with its Social Action Committee. Joy was a passionate supporter of the civil rights movement all her life, and the UU fellowship brought together a close group of socially committed families.

With her children in school, Joy decided to go back to school herself. This choice was met by initial resistance from her husband, due to the difficulties in balancing family life with the demands of college. But Joy persisted and the family ultimately supported her. She completed her degree at Roosevelt University and began teaching sixth grade in 1961 at Mohawk Elementary School in Park Forest. Joy was a gifted teacher and was greatly appreciated by her students.

After a number of years of teaching elementary school, Joy became interested in the emerging field of special education. She returned to school and earned a Masters degree at the University of Illinois and was credentialed as a school psychologist. Joy joined SMA, a newly established cooperative that provided special education services to school districts across the south side of Chicago. The group that assembled there had a special team spirit and morale, and Joy served as a mentor to a young and energetic staff. She also pursued further post-graduate work at Northwestern.

Joy's husband Tom died of cancer in 1989. Prior to this, Tom had fought severe arthritis for over 10 years, which greatly limited the possibilities of travel for the couple. After Tom's passing, and with Joy's career winding down, Joy began an exciting period of international travel. She joined bicycle trips in Europe, New Zealand, Arizona, and many other places, and took a trek in Bhutan. Joy ended her working career in the late 1990s.

Joy moved out to Encinitas, CA on September 11, 2001, the date of the terrorist attacks. Her flight was grounded in Denver, but she made her way by bus and was soon able to move into a beautiful ridgetop home. She joined the San Dieguito Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship. She soon developed a new network of friends, and embarked on a new, wonderful and mostly unanticipated phase of life in California.

Joy is pre-deceased by her husband Thomas and youngest son, Scott. She is survived by three sons, Jeffrey and wife Jane, Barry, and Michael and wife Odette; and by five grandchildren (James, Matthew, Elizabeth, Kieran, Claudia) and two great-grandsons (Isaiah, Nasir).

A service in celebration of Joy's life will be held on Saturday January 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito, 1036 Solana Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075. There will be a reception immediately following the service.