Joan Marie Galvin

Our hearts are broken at the unexpected passing of our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Joan Marie Galvin. A true class act, this gracious lady loved and lived her life to the fullest. At almost 92, she still regularly swam, played golf and tennis, worked out with a trainer, took yoga and Pilates classes, and attended a weekly spin class – all without barely breaking a sweat.

Joan Marie Zellmer was born on August 19, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Jessie and William Zellmer. She graduated from Northwestern University, and moved immediately to San Francisco, CA where she ran into another Northwestern alumni, James J. Galvin. They were married on April 7,1956 in Milwaukee and raised their family in Boston, MA.; Greenville, SC; Rumson, NJ; and Houston, TX before finally landing permanently in Clearwater, FL.

This was a couple who loved to go places and they were fortunate to be able to travel extensively with Jim’s job and for pleasure. They visited Russia, China, Australia, South Africa, and multiple other spots together.

After Jim’s passing, Mom continued her global conquest of all 7 continents. Her preferred traveling companions were her kids who shared animal safaris in Africa, penguins in Antarctica, iguanas in the Galapagos, arches and rock formations in the US Southwest, and wolves in winter in Yellowstone. However, her most favorite trips and visits were those that involved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whether it was Austin, Boston, Houston or Phoenix and multiple places in between. You could count on Grandma to be at your dance recital, your cello concert, your musical, and always your graduation from high school and college. In between all of that, she found time to earn her Master’s Degree in English literature from the University of South Florida.

Joan’s Florida family was usually based out of her home-away-from-home: Countryside Country Club where she cherished the friendships of all her golf and tennis partners, the Wednesday night dinner gang and especially the wonderful staff at CCC.

Joan was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, James Jerome Galvin. She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Jim and Pat Galvin, Kelly Galvin, Kate and Mark Murphy, Kerry Galvin, Eileen and Mike DeArman, and Shannon and Jeff Dunn. She is also survived by her seven cherished granddaughters and their spouses: Shannon and Chris Ryberg, Megan and Frank Dalo, Kelly Murphy, Caroline Hunt, Bailey Dunn, Jessie DeArman, and Madison Dunn. No grandmother was loved more. She will also be missed by her 3 great grandchildren Reagan Ryberg, Brooke Ryberg and MacKenzie Dalo.

It is with a heavy heart that we say, “So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.”

Please join us for a memorial mass and service on Friday, August 18th at 1:30 pm at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor, FL. A reception will follow at Countryside Country Club immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to a charity of your choice. Some of Joan's favorites were Nature Conservation, Literacy, Veterans, and Disadvantaged Children.