Joan B Candoli

Joan Candoli was born Joan Barbro Jacobson on February 8, 1932, to Norman and Cora Jacobson in Battle Creek, Michigan, the Cereal Capital of the World. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School and then Western Michigan University, with a degree in education. She taught first and second grades in Kalamazoo and Vicksburg, Michigan. In 1955, she married I. Carl (“Ace”) Candoli, to whom she was married 57 years until his passing. Joan and Ace had three children, who are all interesting and unique, thanks to her influence and dedication.

Joan was a quiet soul, who loved teaching, learning, and reading. She learned kindness from her father Norm, a dairyman, and tenacity from her mother Cora, an early advocate for women’s rights, particularly the right to vote. After their first child was born, Joan left her teaching career, but never stopped being a lifelong educator and, most important to her, a great mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was Carl’s partner in his pursuits, from advanced degrees to leadership in public education—but she was also his secret weapon. Proud of her Norwegian heritage, she also fully adopted the Italian community into which she married and helped Carl buffer his tendency to be volatile with a cooler perspective, to the benefit of all concerned. As Ace’s career in education took them to new places, Joan bravely embraced new people and communities and provided stability for the family while never losing her love of teaching, reading, and learning new things, which she passed on to her children. Beloved by many whose lives she touched, she was able to connect with people and animals on an individual level. Joan never really retired; she loved to travel and to continue to learn and grow. She learned to swim in her thirties, with three kids at home, so she would be able to take them to the pool; she became a good swimmer and swam laps regularly into her nineties. A talented violinist from a young age, she decided to learn guitar in her late seventies and joined a group that played at church. Her courage was evident in insisting on living alone after Ace’s passing, because it was something she’d never done. She read prolifically and loved a good story, particularly fiction, and was Ace’s (and Julie’s) best first reader and editor. Joan began volunteering as an Alpha Chi Omega in college and continued throughout her life, teaching kids to read and caring for her grandchildren, as well as participating in partnerships that benefitted children and families with local elementary schools, her church, and the Pan American Round Table. Her family continues to be so very proud of Joan’s independence, tenacity, and humor, but especially the way that she treated everyone with such kindness, an example that will continue to inspire us all. Joan loved kids, books, cats and dogs, ice cream, chocolate, and coffee. When you want to think of Joan, pull out a good book and make yourself a cup of coffee. She lives on.

Joan is predeceased by her parents, Norman and Cora Jacobson; her husband, I. Carl (“Ace”) Candoli; her sister, Dorothy Colby, and her brother-in-law, Peter Colby. Joan’s legacy will continue in her children, Julie Ann (Greg Jones), Carol Ann (Craig Rohn), and Louis Carl (Joanna); her grandchildren Michael Sayago (Katie), Sophia (“Sophie”), and Gabriela (“Gabby”); her great-grandchildren Adelina (“Addie”) and Edward (“Teddy”); her nieces Georgia Candoli and Carmen Ganser; her nephews Jim Colby, Craig Colby, and Scott Colby; and their families, as well as so many friends.

Memorial service 11 a.m. Friday, October 2 at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church (9508 Great Hills Trail, Austin), followed by a reception at the Villa Serena clubhouse. In lieu of flowers, please donate to organizations that Joan supported to help kids to read, learn, and thrive, like T.A. Brown Elementary School (https://www.austinedfund.org/give/#campus-giving, choose “Give to a Campus,” and “Brown Elementary”), Bookspring Austin (https://bookspring.org/en/support/book-fund/ ), Reading is Fundamental (www.rif.org ), or the child-friendly charity of your choice.