Joan Marinaro

Joan Marinaro of Newtown died suddenly August 17 at her home. She was 50 years old. Joan was the daughter of the late Louis and Clarice (Main-Clark) Marinaro.

Ms Marinaro is survived by her sister, Barbara Marinaro of Bethel; a brother, Mike Marinaro and his wife Christine of Wendell, N.C., her nephew, Richard Marinaro, two nieces, Heather Gentry and Yensina Marinaro, a great nephew, Dustin Gentry, and two great nieces, Faith and Grace Gentry, aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends, and students.

She was a graduate of Western Connecticut State College and earned her master’s degree while in Colorado. She spent several years teaching on the Navajo Indian Reservation at Chinle High School in Arizona, from which she had many wonderful experiences, stories, and memories. She was a devoted teacher of special education at Maplewood Elementary School in Bridgeport. Her commitment to her profession, to the children she taught, and the endless hours she dedicated, showed her loyalty to what she felt was her “calling” in life. She will be remembered as a sweet, gentle, loving person, who was always sensitive to the needs of others.

Ms Marinaro was a cat lover and has had as many as 23 cats living with her, while trying to save them all. She leaves behind three of her beloved felines, Wishes, Twink, and Bently. It would not be unusual to see Joan on the roadside helping a turtle hurry across, or outside feeding the wild turkeys, chipmunks, or other wild animals that visited her yard.

Besides her love of animals and children, Joan was an avid gardener. She took great pleasure spending many hours digging in her garden, seeding and planting. She found gardening therapeutic, relaxing, rewarding, and a joy to watch grow. Purple colors would dominate her garden and her wardrobe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Danbury Animal Welfare (DAWS), or to the American Heart Association.

Friends may join the family for a memorial service, which will be held Saturday, 1 pm, at the United Methodist Church, 141 Greenwood Ave., Bethel.

The Newtown Bee        August 22, 2003