Joanne Terenzio Blakemore

Joanne Blakemore, a lifelong civic leader and devoted volunteer, died Sunday, November 30, at the University of Virginia Hospital following a sudden stroke. She was widely admired for her energy, generosity, and dynamic presence and was deeply loved by all who knew her.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut to Joseph and Marie Terenzio, and raised in Manhattan, Joanne and her husband Haywood met and married in New York and began a 40-year global adventure when they moved to Singapore in 1982. They lived and raised their daughters in Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, and Doha. A natural leader and masterful connector, Joanne built strong communities everywhere she went.

After decades living abroad, Joanne and Haywood settled in Charlottesville and embraced their new home. She immersed herself in the local community, serving on the boards of the Charlottesville Opera, Georgia’s Friends, the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem, and, previously, the Charlottesville Council on Foreign Relations, the UVA Cancer Center, and the Rivanna Garden Club. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the International Rescue Committee, Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Salvation Army.

Earlier, in Singapore, Joanne founded the ASEAN Children’s Foundation, training doctors across Southeast Asia in childhood cancer care. She led the American Association and served on numerous local boards including the American Women’s Association, Singapore Symphony, Repertory Theatre, and the National Museum. After 9/11, she organized and led a memorial attended by over 10,000 people in Singapore’s National Stadium.

In Paris, she was active at the American Cathedral, serving as President of the St. Anne’s Guild. She led annual trips to Jerusalem and the West Bank to support and work with two Palestinian schools in Ramallah. Later, she planned and co-led annual trips for the Cathedral community to historic and religious sites across Europe and Central Asia. These trips became a highlight for Cathedral members for over 15 years.

In Doha, she served as President of the International Women’s Group and spearheaded a donation program supporting immigrant workers and Syrian refugees. Her service extended across borders - she volunteered in post-Katrina Mississippi, earthquake-stricken Haiti, and impoverished areas of Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Joanne was known for her warmth, elegance, sharp wit, and indomitable spirit. A magnetic presence, she was equally at home debating politics, planning a transcontinental trip, leading a fundraising drive, or singing showtunes while cooking dinner with her family and friends. She brought people together and made every room brighter.

Her 45-year partnership with Haywood spanned continents and decades, rooted in love, humor, and shared adventure. She is also survived by her brother, John Terenzio, her daughters Jessica and Emily, sons-in-law Brian Damron and Stuart Murphy, and granddaughter Madeline Louise Murphy.

Someone once remarked of Joanne that to know her was to see love in action.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Georgia’s Friends (georgiasfriends.org), an organization dear to Joanne’s heart that supports women in recovery in the Charlottesville area.