Born February 15, 1937, in Charlotte, North Carolina to Barbara Mosenthal and Winston Trowbridge Kellogg, Joanna grew up in Birmingham, Michigan where she attended Kingswood/Cranbrook School. She attended Brown University, graduating with a BA in Art History 1959. She married Alfred Uhry, the playwright, the same year.
Joanna was a grade school teacher at the Calhoun School in New York City for many years. While there she developed an interest in learning disabilities and enrolled in a masters program at Teachers College. She went on to earn two masters degrees and an Ed.D in education at Columbia University. Joanna served as a member of the faculty at Teacher's College until she joined the faculty at Fordham University, where she served as a leader in preparing teachers at the Graduate School of Education for over 20 years.
The focus of her years of research was on understanding how to teach children to read. She was a worldwide expert in dyslexia, and authored numerous publications, including Dyslexia: Theory and Practice of Instruction. She was the Director for the Advanced Certification program in Literacy, the Initial Teacher Certification program, and coordinator of the Childhood Education program.
In addition, Joanna mentored numerous doctoral students and served as Chair of the Division of Curriculum and Teaching for four years. After retirement, Joanna was awarded status of Professor Emeritus at Fordham University.
In addition to her many academic and professional achievements, Joanna was an accomplished gardener, cook, ceramicist, painter, and weaver and had a passion for photography and directing family plays and home movies.
Joanna is survived by her husband, Alfred Uhry, and four daughters: Emily Uhry of Ridgefield, Ct; Elizabeth Uhry MacCurrach and her husband, Augie MacCurrach, of Wenham, Massachusetts; Kate Uhry, of Bethlehem, Connecticut; and Eleanor Uhry Burdett and her husband, Tom Burdett, of Weston, Connecticut. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Alene, Jim, and Eleanor Rhea; Madeline, Phoebe, and Grace MacCurrach; and Jane and Max Burdett; as well as two beloved sisters, Constance Casey of Northfield, Illinois and Emily Hackett of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at the McNally Amphitheatre, Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, 140 W. 62nd St., NY, NY
Contributions in Joanna's memory may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd., SW, Lilburn, GA 30047 (lbda.org) or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, POB 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (michaeljfox.org).
Green Funeral Home of Danbury, CT has been entrusted with arrangements.
