Joyce Lorraine Cooper Riseberg, a professor of mathematics, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 24, 2022. She died after a two-year battle with cancer.
Joyce was born in the Bronx, New York. When Joyce was young, her father, Louis Cooper, DDS, enlisted to offer his dentistry services to members of the armed forces at a base in North Carolina, moving his family, including wife, Inez Cooper, and two daughters with him. Later, after returning to New York, Joyce attended Christopher Columbus High School, and Vassar College, where she majored in math and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She was married to Richard Riseberg in June 1961 and they began their life together in Massachusetts, settling in the Boston area. While starting a family, Joyce obtained her Master’s Degree in mathematics from Boston University. When Richard’s career moved the family to the Washington, DC suburbs, Joyce was hired as a math professor at Montgomery College where she received tenure and worked for the next 39 years. Joyce’s career was defined by both her passion for teaching math to students and the many strong relationships with her colleagues.
Joyce had many interests, including visiting art museums, attending theater and movies, and enjoying restaurants, but one of her lifelong passions was reading. She was a member of multiple book clubs, and enjoyed her participation in these immensely. She and Richard had many travels throughout the U.S. and the world, and she kept a detailed and organized documentation of these through scrapbooks and photo albums.
Joyce is survived by her husband Richard of 61 years, her son David Riseberg (Kathy) and their children Jonathan, Benjamin and Emily, and daughter Gail Gleeson (Kevin) and their children Brynna, Aidan and Gabriel. She is also survived by her sister, Carolyn Porcelan, and two nieces, and will be mourned by many close friends as well.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mercy Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Fund or "In memory of Joyce Riseberg" to the Montgomery College Foundation. Please see the links below for details.
Funeral services will be held on July 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Judean Memorial Gardens, 16225 Batchellors Forest Road, Olney, MD 20832. The funeral service will be broadcast live through YouTube. Viewing the service via YouTube requires no software. Select "Join Livestream" below to join the family.
