Joan Ellen Spaw

Joan Carlin Schwartz Spaw, an amazing woman known by all for her beautiful spirit, good humor, boundless energy, and striking dimples, passed away on the 10th of July 2011, at the age of 52, after a brief but heroic battle with cancer. By tirelessly sharing her joy for life, Joan inspired great love and hope in the world around her. Her memory will shine brightly in the hearts of those so fortunate to have known her.

Joan was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on the 23rd of February 1959, to Ruth and Elmer Carlin. She and her dear sister Sandy Carlin Guin spent joyous times together on Spring Street playing box ball with friends. Friday nights were treasured family gatherings, spent enjoying pizza and mussels from Pete & Joe’s while watching Burke’s Law on television. Joan’s energy and youthful spirit made her a favorite at the camp she loved where, to no one’s surprise, she won its camper of the year award. At Passaic High School, Joan tried out for the lead in the play, “Bye Bye Birdie,” though she couldn’t sing a lick. True to form, her charm and good nature won her the role. Joan maintained close relationships with childhood friends and classmates throughout her life.

In 1981, she graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in hotel, restaurant and travel administration. Professional opportunity brought Joan to Houston, when she joined Hyatt Regency Hotels’ Management Training Program and then worked in its Sales and Convention Services.

In 1986, Joan started her career working with lawyers and law firms. The legal community benefited immensely from her decision, as she launched hundreds of legal careers, first as a director of attorney employment and later at her own legal placement agency. She spent 15 years at the prestigious national law firm Baker Botts LLP, initially assisting in law student recruiting and quickly moving up to become Director of Attorney Development for the entire firm. In 2001, she moved into legal consulting, as a Principal at MS Legal Search, LLC, a respected legal recruiting consulting firm that she co-founded. Finally, in 2009, she joined Yetter Coleman LLP, a prominent litigation boutique with offices in Houston and Austin, as Director of Firm Relations.

Joan had a keen understanding of the market, an unfailing memory for the names and faces of the young lawyers she mentored, and endless enthusiasm and drive to contribute to the profession. But a stellar career was just one part of who she was. Joan was even more widely loved by the scores of family, friends, and colleagues whom she cherished. Known fondly as “Joani,” she was to all who met her SUNSHINE with an unforgettable zest for life.

Joan had the unparalleled ability of making people feel she had been their old friend even though they had just met her for the first time. She believed everyone had a story, that their story was important, and she took the time to learn it.

On the 23rd of June 1985, Joan married Stefan Schwartz, and in 1994 they welcomed to the world their dearly loved son, Noah. Joan’s friends marveled at her easy, gentle spirit as a mother -- a role she cherished above all others. Noah was Joan’s great passion, for whom she daily fine-tuned her energy and life force. She reveled in their relationship, spending time with his friends and participating in his evolving world, but always giving him space to grow into his own person and develop his strong character. She admired Noah’s passion and wondered often where his powerful personality would take him, hoping that his life would include great love and unexpected adventure. Quite simply, Joan admired Noah and enjoyed his companionship. Indeed, among her most frequent and ecstatic postings on Facebook was, “Noah’s home!!!!”

Stefan passed away from cancer in 2002, when Noah was 7 years old. With Joan’s typical determination and heart, she and Noah created The Stefan Schwartz Memorial Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, tirelessly raising money to fund it by baking ginger snaps every Saturday morning and selling them at the local farmers’ market. With enveloping love and encouragement, Joan guided Noah through these difficult times.

A few years later, Joan’s life changed again. She was blessed to meet David Spaw, who had lost his prior spouse to cancer. On the 1st of October 2005, she and David married and spent their ensuing years together, intertwined in each other’s lives. Joan and David had a unique and abiding chemistry. They enjoyed each other’s thinking and took good care of one another, while including many fortunate friends in their cozy world. Their love was easy to feel in a room. Close friends cherished having a small window into their friendship.

Whether focused on her work in the legal community, David’s successful construction firm, Noah’s sports and many other school activities at St. Stephan’s, their country place in New Ulm, or their recent work to bring the Commonweal Cancer Help Program to Texas, Joan and David shared their careers, passions, and lives together in every way.

In recent years, Joan took up running and, characteristically, wasn’t satisfied until she had successfully completed a half-marathon. She and David most recently began rowing on Lady Bird Lake. Joan also loved to cook, and was known for making the most fabulous cookies. With her infectious spirit and unwavering loyalty, Joan showed us all how to live a rich and meaningful life.

Joan is survived by parents, Ruth and Elmer Carlin, spouse David Spaw, son Noah Schwartz, sister Sandy Carlin Guin, brother-in-law Hon. James C. Guin, III, nephew Nathan Guin, and step-daughters Sonia Spaw and Erin Reck. She is additionally survived by David’s extended family, Richard and Joan Spaw, Arthur and Wanda Niebuhr, Richard Droker, and their families.

In Houston, friends are invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 18th of July, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive.

A memorial service will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 19th of July, in the sanctuary of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive. Immediately following the service all are invited to a reception.

In Austin, a prayer service followed by a reception will be held at seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 22nd of July, outside the chapel at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, 6500 St. Stephen’s Drive.

Charitable donations in Joan’s memory may be made to: The Joan Schwartz Spaw Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, P.O. Box 316, Bolinas, California 94924, www.commonweal.org; or The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in honor of Joan Schwartz Spaw, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210, www.mdanderson.org/gifts.