Joan Ruth Leard

Born in Detroit, Michigan on January 13, 1935. She moved with her parents Earl and Byleam Fancey, and her sister Marilyn to Massachusetts where she graduated from Holden High School. She went on to attend Worcester Junior College prior to marrying and having two daughters. Relocation was part of her husband's career, so as a result Joan lived in Oregon, Georgia, and settled in Arizona in the late 1970’s with her girls who still live here in Phoenix and Tempe respectively. She completed her BSBA from Clark University in her mid-forties, and always held a job in business and finance. She worked in the insurance field for the first part of her career, and spent the last part of her career working for Arizona State University at the Memorial Union as the Business Manager, culminating in her work at the ASU University Club. She was deeply involved in every aspect of the renovation of the building, setting up the operations, and marketing for faculty members to join when the Club opened its doors.

Joan had a passion for people and organizations. Her daughter Susan is quoted as saying, “If she went to an organizational meeting, she would come home as the treasurer.” She ran her own tax accounting firm, JRL Accounting, and specialized in personal and small business clients. Joan served a term as President of the Scottsdale Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants IMA), and as IMA Director for the Western Region. She served on the boards of the ASU University Club, the ASU Carillon Society (she worked on the campaign to reinstall the Carillon on campus, and the bells can be heard there today), and Arizonans for Non-Smokers Rights, She sat on the Board of the Arizona State University Retirees Association (ASURA), and was Director of their Adopt-A-Family program for years, becoming friendly with the employees at Tempe Marketplace JC Penney’s as she and her daughters shopped there for three or four families at a time each holiday. She volunteered for PBS Pledge Drive, served on the Board of her homeowners association, and even served as a scorer at several College Bowl tournaments, one of which was a National Championship.

The meeting that would have the greatest impact on her life, and go on to impact so many around her, was for Jazz in Arizona. She would spend the majority of her retired years in the thick of every aspect of Jazz music in Arizona. The jazz musicians of the Valley of the Sun were her family, and brought so much to her life, as she did to theirs!

Everywhere she traveled in the state of Arizona, she ran into someone she knew, according to her grandsons, who accompanied her regularly to events all over town. She volunteered and worked for events such as the Chandler and Glendale Jazz Festivals, and events at the Kerr Cultural Center. She culminated her career as the Assistant Director for Jazz in Arizona with her work on the 35th Anniversary events and the opening of The Nash in downtown Phoenix.

She enjoyed friends and family, travel, cooking, board games, cards, and crossword puzzles. She traveled to many of the nation’s National parks, Presidential libraries and museums.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Leard and Christine Petiford; grandchildren: Zane Petiford, and Ian Petiford; and her sister, Marilyn Keough, Jefferson, MA.

The family would like to thank the Hospice of the Valley - Eckstein Center for the kindness and care they extended to us at the end of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joan at The Nash. Choose The Joan Leard Memorial Fund as the Dedication Type at the following link:

https://thenash.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n4T00000Dn8K2QAJ&