“Joan and I met in 6th grade and we became fast friends. We spent a lot of time together both in school and out. Weekends would come and she came over to my house and slept over so we had plenty of time to share together. What I remember was how easy she was to be around, in an even and steady manner. There was a maturity to her that I lacked and a confidence that was noticeable even at that young age. She had a quiet exuberance that wasn’t over the top, yet she shined.

     With an older sister, Jane, and brother, John, in high school she had the inside scoop on a lot of things I didn’t know and she freely shared her wisdom about what to expect in high school.

      Joan was the person who introduced me to the skills it would require to be a cheerleader and gymnast. She told me that we’d better start training now (6th grade) because it will take that long to be good enough to make the squad. The news that that would take 3 years was a bit daunting. In my living room, she sat on the floor across from me and showed me how to stretch my legs for splits, this being the very most important skill one needed to be a cheerleader. (ugh) In addition, she demonstrated the beginnings of cartwheels, forward rolls (things we could barely do in the house), how to stand properly to be a cheerleader and something I was never able to do, bend over backwards. She was so flexible and I was stiff as a board.

     Joan was an incredible athlete, as were her siblings Jane and John. They all had natural athletic ability. She was strong, fast and fearless, with a quiet power. In grammar school, we were a force at recess playing kickball and softball and we were undaunted by the boys.

     Once we got into 9th grade, Joan and I did try out for cheerleading and we were two of three freshman, along with our classmate, Pam Matson, who made the squad. The three of us went on to make the Varsity squad in our Sophomore year, something which was unheard of at the time and caused a bit of a stir.

      There was something mysterious about Joan and we resonated on that level. She had insight and confidence and  powerful in a quiet way and I admired her for all her traits.

       We eventually went separate ways as we each followed our own interests and met new friends. There will always be a special place for her in my heart though, as someone who had a profound effect on my high school experience.”                                       

                                                                                                                                                                        - Patty Hall