April 30, 2024 Obituary: Joan Rita Weyers Baltimore, Maryland
“I am not what I ought to be, not what I want to be, nor what I’m going to be, but am thankful that I am not what I want to be. Your gracious comments in regard to my remarks on television immediately after our disappointing loss to Houston in the Astrodome were sincerely appreciated.....” John Wooden, basketball coach of an undefeated UCLA team, January 11, 1968, who wrote a personal letter to Joan Weyers who complimented Wooden about how he conducted a televised interview following UCLA basketball team’s first loss of that season.
Joan Rita Weyers (affectionately referred to by her loving family as (“AJ” for Aunt Joanie as Aunt sounded old), 85, died of natural causes on April 14, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Joan Weyers was born October 8, 1938. Her father, Leo Weyers, served as Price County Sheriff. He also owned and operated an Oldsmobile dealership in Phiilips. He died in 1952. Her mother, Mamie Vlach Weyers, passed away in 1956 on Joan’s 18th birthday.
Joan graduated from Phillips High School on May 17, 1956. Joan excelled in sports, especially tennis and golf. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1961 from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She also earned an advanced degree in Physical Education from the University of North Carolina in 1968.
She taught at Western Maryland University (now McDaniel College). She coached field hockey from 1968 to 1982 and ranks third for total wins, women’s tennis from 1984 - 89, and women’s soccer from 1987 – 89. McDaniel College has recognized her for her coaching successes on their Wall of Fame.
Joan taught students majoring in education how to teach adaptive physical education to the physically impaired.
For over 30 years a Tournament of Champions has been held at McDaniel University. Joan and a colleague, Jim Bullock, collaborated to create the Tournament of Champions. They coordinated with 22 public schools in Carroll County, Maryland. McDaniel students enrolled in adaptive physical education classes designed activities adapted for intellectually, and physically impaired elementary, middle, and high school students. Students participated in the Tournament of Champions where they competed in events similar to the Olympics.
One example of Joan’s passion for teaching and her dedication to students: during her employment, the college purchased a tandem bicycle at Joan’s insistence. Once she had access to this bicycle, she rode a visually impaired student through the university town. Later this student recalled the wonderful experience of feeling the wind riffling through his hair on that ride.
An avid and competitive tennis player Joan was ranked among the best amateur women tennis and badminton players in the State of Maryland. Joan belonged to and worked stringing tennis racquets part time at a number of Baltimore tennis facilities.
She also referred volleyball games at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. As a referee she bonded with many of the inmates.
Joan traveled and played golf and pickleball after her retirement. She also won numerous medals participating in Senior Olympics. A McDaniel colleague recalls that Joan contacted his wife, Sherry Clower, to teach Joan how to throw a javelin for the Senior Olympics.
Joan Weyers is survived by her significant other Willam Pollard, brother, Daniel Weyers (Gerry), nephews Mark (Lori), David (Janet), and Dennis Weyers, and her sister, Pauline Warzyn (Richard, deceased)- her nieces, Cynthia (Drew), Mary Dee, and Ann (Steve) - and nephews Steven and Douglas (Tony) along with grandnieces Vanessa and Laura Blount, Cate (Bart Baldwin), Stacy Weyers, and Lilly Olson. Her grandnephews Brandon, Adam, Cody Weyers and Luke Olson. Great grand nieces, Lennen and Logan Baldwin.
She visited her mother’s family in the Czech Republic and is survived by Bohumil Chocole and family, Zenek and Jana Huml and family, and Milan Vlach.
A memorial service on June 30 from 3 – 6 pm at Links and Drinks, 1087 Summit Avenue, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066, is being planned.
Donations to support student athletes in Joan Weyers memory may be made to McDaniel College Green and Gold Fund, supports Green Terror teams and student athletes. Contributions in memory of Professor Emerita Joan Weyers may be sent to McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, Maryland 21157.
May Joan Weyers memory be eternal.
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