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Joan Stookey Harring

February 25, 2023
Ellicott City, MD

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Stookey Harring, Joan Griswold 10/4/1965 - 2/25/2023 Ellicott City, MD Surrounded by family, Joan Harring, 57, of Ellicott City, Maryland died peacefully at home on Saturday, February 25 after living courageously with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She was diagnosed in May of 2021. Joan leaves behind her beloved husband and best friend Jeff, son Adam (Sarah), and daughter Emma. In addition, she is survived by her parents Lee and Byron Stookey of Brattleboro, VT and sisters Sarah Stookey of Amherst, MA, Anna (Tom) Clancy of Barrington, RI, and Kate (Sandy) Haviland of Fairfield, CT as well as her loving brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends. Joan was born on October 4, 1965 in Santa Cruz, CA but grew up in Brooklyn NY. She attended PS8 Elementary School, Satellite West Middle School, and a short stint at Edward R. Murrow High School before graduating in 1984 from George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, PA. In 1988, she graduated from Macalester College with a bachelor's degree in history. Of Joan's many qualities she was, foremost, caring, loving and kinda wonderful listener, very patient, level-headed, smart, and unexpectedly stubborn. Joan was unassuming and preferred that the spotlight in conversations and recognition be focused on others. She was a people person and relished talking on the phone with friends and family and delighted in one-on-one conversations. One of Joan's favorite pastimes was playing cards and board games. She was a lifelong pinochle player and was particularly fond of Catan, Qwirkle, and Boggle. Joan took on many interesting roles and positions throughout her adult life. She worked as a foster care case manager, was a member of the office staff in a podiatry clinic and served as a restaurant hostess. The majority of her time, however, was spent as a paraeducator in elementary school classroomsboth in Minnesota and Maryland. In her last placement, Joan was assigned to work with special needs kids from pre-K, kindergarten, and first-grade classrooms. Joan grew up in a family that encouraged community activism and involvement. Not surprisingly then, Joan worked one summer as a volunteer at Big Bend National Park in Texas restoring and preserving hiking trails. And, for the last 15 years, she volunteered as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for the best interests of children who experienced abuse or neglect. Most of all, Joan loved being a mom. She put her own career ambitions on hold to stay at home until the kids were of school-age and was ever present in their lives. They have turned out to be wonderfully competent and loving adults, a testament to how Joan rubbed off on them. To Joan it was family and friends that made her life whole. She cherished every relationship! A celebration of Joan's life will be scheduled for later this spring or summer. In accordance with Joan's wishes, in lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the local ALS Association MD/DC/VA Patient Services Fund online at www.als.org or to the ALS Therapy Development Institute at www.als.net.