Joan Foster

Joan Simpson (Hunter-Foster) was born in Harlem, NYC on 4/21/35 which was Easter Sunday to parents James Thomas & Geraldine Simpson. Joan is one of six siblings named Emmanuel, Ronald, David, Beatrice, Roslind and Carole. All siblings are pre-deceased. Joan spent her teenage years in the Bronx (Soundview section) , married and relocated to Staten Island, West Brighton in 1962. She had three children named Terrence Hunter, Sharon Hunter-Waldemar and Mark Hunter. She then moved from West Brighton to Port Richmond upon marriage to Waldell Foster who died in 2002.

Joan began her nursing career starting with LPN and graduating from Willowbrook School for Practical Nurses in 1986. She returned to school at the College of Staten Island where she earned her AAS degree in nursing. She then attended and graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island earning a BSN and MSN degrees. She is a member of the Honor Society.

Joan worked primarily with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Health Assessment Coordinator and Public Health Nurse Coordinator managing a clinic for homeless veterans until her retirement in 1997.

She volunteered as a Catechist instructor for Sunday school children in the neighborhood. She enjoyed reading avidly, attended daily masses at her church and taking cruises and on occasion went to Atlantic City. She was a member of the honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Beta Thau International. She published articles for a nursing journal entitled “A Nurse in a Center for the Homeless.”

She will be missed by her loving family, friends and the nursing community,