Joan Maureen Siudzinski

Born in the Bronx, New York, Joan was the daughter of Florence and Cornelius Fitzpatrick. After attending St. Barnabas High School (NYC), she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Chemistry from Hunter College (NYC), and later a Master of Science in Education from the College of St. Rose (Albany, NY). During her career in elementary school teaching and administrative leadership, Joan completed a Certification in Gifted Education from the University of North Florida (UNF), participated in a study of the British Infant Schools (London & Yorkshire, UK), and gained professional development through a Yale Study of School Readiness with the Gesell Institute for Human Development (CT).

Growing up in New York City surrounded by museums, music, theatre, and dance, Joan enjoyed a lifelong appreciation for the arts. She frequented ballets, symphonies, operas, and contemporary musical performances. Music was a constant in her home and spanned a surprising range of genres. She was often tapping out rhythms and tempos, which led to joining drum circles in her senior living facility. She played piano, enjoyed dancing, directed theatrical productions with her students, and attended art shows. An amateur artist, Joan was skilled in pottery, charcoal pencils, ink pens, and oil paints. Later in life, she returned to sketching and painting portraits of loved ones. Early in her marriage, Joan crafted handmade Christmas ornaments that are enjoyed by the family to this day. She also possessed a keen talent for interior decorating. Her homes were beautiful, comfortable, and enjoyed by many. From her fashionable clothing styles to her handwritten calligraphy cards, Joan had a classy and unique flair.

In 1964, Joan married Bob Siudzinski, a psychology professor from Brooklyn. The couple lived in Arizona and New York before settling in Florida in 1972 so Joan and her sister could raise their families in close proximity. Licensed to teach in all three states, Joan taught pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, taking off 11 years to be a stay-at-home mother. When she returned to her career, she taught in several Florida schools (Jacksonville Country Day, Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley, and M. K. Rawlings) and was the Opening Director of the Palms Pre-School and Child Care Center. With professional memberships in the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Florida Association of the Gifted, and the National Association of Gifted Children, Joan also served on the Enrichment Committee of the St. Johns Public Education Foundation, the Mayor’s Task Force on Corporate Child Care, and as a liaison with TheatreWorks, Inc., a program which allowed school children to have an up-close experience of curriculum-enhancing productions. Joan retired in June of 1998 after 30 years in education.

Seasonally splitting time between homes in Florida and Colorado, Joan thoroughly enjoyed retirement with Bob. They were engaged in the lives of their adult children and grandchildren, spoke with them weekly, and regularly shared multi-generational family experiences. Bob’s university sabbaticals facilitated extended living experiences in England and South Africa where Joan delighted in the English countryside and found the pastoral views above Cape Town breathtaking. For over half a century, the couple wove together a life that included travel, creative expression, lifelong learning, and time with family.

Since the 1960s, Joan built upon her degree in nutritional chemistry to tirelessly advocate for eating organic, unprocessed, and additive-free foods. Although consistently health conscious, exceptions were made if chocolate ice cream or malted milk balls were on the menu. Joan’s healthy lifestyle also included tennis, dips in the swimming pool, and long walks on the beach.

Joan was both highly organized and spontaneous. Some of her favorite days were spent with her sister having lunch and browsing shops on Amelia Island or in St. Augustine, Florida. Whenever she started a sentence with, “How about we..,” you knew she was about to suggest a special outing. Her favorite adjective was “lovely.” She made friends easily, relished deep conversations, had a quick wit, and remained an optimist at ninety years of age.

Joan was a loving, physically affectionate, and incredibly giving soul who cherished family. She often stated that, across her lifetime, her greatest joys and accomplishments were realized through parenting and working with children. She was a beautiful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, and Nana. Her warm smile, inclusive nature, playful spirit, and eye for aesthetics will be greatly missed.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Bob, with whom she shared fifty-two years of marriage.

Surviving family include her two children, Robert Siudzinski and Jennifer Sardinia; her sister and best friend, Arleen Dittmer; son-in-law Michael Sardinia, daughter-in-law Meghan Siudzinski; four grandchildren, Dylan Sardinia, Emily Sardinia, Madeline Siudzinski, and Bryn Margaret Siudzinski; two beloved nephews, Scott Dittmer and Jason Dittmer (Kate Hall); two great-nieces, Florence Dittmer and Hazel Hall Dittmer; and dear cousins, Peggy Joan Rogan and Steve Rogan.

A private, family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Cremation is entrusted to Howe Mortuary & Crematory of Longmont, Colorado.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Siudzinski family.