Joann Howard Wood

Joann was born and raised in San Francisco. She was the first in her family to attend college and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1954. Her first and only employer was Kaiser Permanente as a Clinical Scientist and retired after 40 years. Joann Howard met Jim Wood while folk dancing in San Francisco. They married in 1958 and had two daughters, Elaine and Christy. In 1972 they moved from Belmont to Fremont. Joann and Jim were very active in their community. They were folk dancers, Ham Radio Operators, members of the Niles Canyon Railway, and in the first class of CARE volunteers for the Fremont Police Dept. They were always planning their next trip.  They skied, camped, and traveled extensively-going to Europe, Asia and South America 20+ times. They were both lifelong members of Peninsula Ski Club. Joann played in a Croatian orchestra for 45 years performing around the Bay Area and USA. Joann was proud of her Italian-Irish heritage. She was raised in her Italian grandmother’s house in San Francisco which greatly influenced her. She was a big gardener, an avid reader and was great with crossword puzzles. Education was very important to her. She got her Master of Public Health from San Jose State University in 1985 and later taught classes in Phlebotomy at Ohlone College. Joann had a great zest for life and was always up for the next adventure. She loved the outdoors, going to Tahoe, and playing games, including cribbage and gazooki. She was proud of her family, especially her grandchildren. We are proud of the life she led and will miss her.

Joann is preceded in death by husband James F. (2009) and survived by her daughter Elaine, son-in-law John Pitek (Grandchildren Stephen and Holly) and daughter Christy, son-in-law Tom Wright (Grandchildren Heather and Ryan).