SARATOGA SPRINGS —Joanne T. Bennett, whose southern accent captivated so many here, passed away while on palliative care at Saratoga Hospital after a lengthy battle against cancer. She was 77.
After growing up in North Carolina, Joanne attended Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating from the latter with a degree in parks and recreation. She then began a 30-year career with the City of Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department as the first Youth Coordinator and later a park manager. Following her retirement, she moved to Saratoga Springs in 2000, preferring colder winters to hot and humid summers.
She is survived by her step-son, Kirk Bennett of Raleigh, NC, and his family, cousins Vivian Manekin in Maryland and Su Hodges in South Carolina, four cats, and many others whose lives she touched during her career and beyond. She also leaves a vast hole in the life of her partner for the last eight years, Wally Elton.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the wonderful people at Saratoga Hospital’s Hematology/Oncology group who treated and carefully cared for her over the past year and to the many nurses and others at Saratoga Hospital for their kindness and concern during her hospital stays.
Those wishing to honor her memory can make donations to AnimalKind (animalkindny.org; PO Box 902, Hudson, NY 12534) and The Community Hospice of Saratoga at 179 Lawrence St, Saratoga Springs; please designate for “Bereavement.”
