Obituary
Joan W. Levy, 93, (nee Willens), of Glenview, longtime resident of Winnetka, beloved wife and favorite bridge partner of the late Arnold "Arnie" Levy for 64 years; loving mother of Richard (Susan) Levy, Kenneth Levy, Carolvn Hoopes, Ronald (Stephanie) Levy, and Susie Walsh; proud grandmother of Andrew (Alison) and Diana Levy, Jenna and Laura Levy, Jessica and Kendall Levy, and Tripp, Jack and Peter Walsh; and cherished great grandmother of Theo and Esme Levy. Joan was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Helen Louise and niece, Roberta Bear. She is survived by her dear brother, Howard P. Willens (Deanne Siemer).
The daughter of Joseph and Helen Willens, Joan grew up in Oak Park and attended Oak Park River Forest High School where she was editor of the high school newspaper and assistant concert mistress of the school orchestra. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan, she was a night editor of the Michigan Daily, an elected member of the student legislature, and president of her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau.
Joan and Arnie married in 1952 and settled in New York, where she earned a Master's Degree from Columbia University. The Levy family moved to Winnetka in the early 1960's. With five children headed for the Winnetka schools, Joan assumed what became a visible role supporting public education. In the process she became a lay expert on the inequities inherent in Illinois school aid formulas and property assessment systems. In 1977 The Winnetka Chamber of Commerce selected her as Woman of the Year.
Nominated by the Winnetka Caucus in 1971 for election to the Winnetka Board of Education she served the two term (six year) limit. The New Trier Township High School Caucus nominated her in 1977 for an unprecedented four terms (16 years). During that time she also served as President of the Illinois Association of School Boards, founding member and chairman of ED-RED (a suburban public school lobbying organization), and was appointed to multiple Commissions by Congress, the Governor, State Board of Education and National and Illinois Association of School Boards to address school inequity, the role of government in school governance, and property tax reform.
In 2001 Joan joined Hazard, Young and Attea (an education executive search firm) as a senior associate and for twenty years helped school boards define their leadership needs as they evaluate education administrator candidates. Known to be an avid duplicate bridge player and Silver Life Master, Joan was asked by the Director of New Trier's Adult Education Program in 1991 to establish a bridge program at the New Trier Extension. Accepting the challenge launched Joan's highly successful, 25-year bridge teaching career on the North Shore.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, cso.org. Graveside services Tuesday, 10 AM, at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. For information, including a link to view the service, shiva or to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, www.shalom2.com or (847) 255-3520.