Joyce Mary DiTomasso

Joyce DiTomasso, age 79, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, following a courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 26, 1946, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she was the beloved daughter of Hugh and Evelyn Egizi. Joyce grew up in Vineland, New Jersey, where a classmate once described her as “beautiful both inside and out,” a sentiment that remained true throughout her life. She was deeply devoted to her family and found her greatest joy in spending time with her grandchildren, delighting in their lives and accomplishments. Warm-hearted and selfless, Joyce had a natural gift for connecting with others and formed meaningful friendships wherever she went.

Her life in Columbia was marked by a strong and enduring faith. Joyce was actively involved in her local church community, where she served as a Eucharistic minister. For more than 25 years, she was also a member of Alpha, a family-oriented group of like-minded Catholics, reflecting her commitment to faith, fellowship, and service. Joyce had a lifelong love of travel, and in addition to many cherished trips to the beach, she and her husband, John, traveled extensively during their retirement, visiting countries on every continent except Antarctica and creating a lifetime of shared memories.

Committed to education, health, and service, Joyce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Glassboro College in New Jersey and began her career as an elementary school teacher in the Montgomery County Public School System, where she met her future husband. She later continued her dedication to education as a substitute teacher in the Howard County Public School System. Her passion for health and wellness became a defining part of her life. In the early 1980s, Joyce earned an associate’s degree in exercise physiology from Dundalk Community College and became widely known as “the CPR lady,” teaching CPR for many years through Howard Community College and helping countless individuals gain life-saving skills.

Joyce initiated and ran the Circuit Weight Program for the Columbia Association and taught fitness programs at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Bendix Corporation, and through the Howard County Recreation Department. An avid runner, she spent decades circling the Oakland Mills High School track, logging an estimated 25,000 miles over the years. Joyce believed true fitness extended beyond physical strength, and her classes emphasized wellness and nutrition alongside exercise. Outside of her professional life, she enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching figure skating and gymnastics. She is survived by her devoted husband, John; her sons, John and David; their wives, Danielle and Lindsey; her grandchildren, Claudia, Dayton, Joey, Michael, and Emily; her siblings, Carol Roberts, Gary Egizi, Mark Egizi, and Evelyn Egizi; and many extended family members and friends.

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A viewing will be held on Sunday, February 8th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Witzke Funeral Homes, Inc, in Columbia, Maryland, followed by a Funeral Mass and reception on Monday, February 9th at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, beginning at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to FISH of Howard County (fishhowardcounty.org).