Joan moved to Arlington Heights in 1959, purchasing a home in the Hasbrook neighborhood where she and her husband, Everett, raised four children – Andrew, Matthew, Peter and Joanna. She began volunteering in at the Library in the mid-seventies where she assisted with the first computerization of Library records. Joan soon moved from volunteer to employee, working in the Circulation and Technical Services departments. Discovering her love of libraries, Joan pursued a Masters in Library Science at Rosary College and graduated in 1983. From 1983 to her retirement in 1998, Joan worked at the Vernon Area, Lake Zurich and Des Plaines Public Libraries in Technical Services and Reference.

Joan worked with Kathy Shackley, Fran Boyd and Carol Rademacher to begin the genealogy collection at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. She was also one of founders of the Dunton Genealogical Society. Along with Fran Boyd, Joan has been instrumental in the development of our local history collection. She has worked tirelessly to compile books and binders on topics of local interest including three volumes about the people of Arlington Heights and two volumes on the development of the village through its subdivisions, as well as compiling and indexing the records of the various churches in the community.

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is most appreciative of Joan’s devotion and contributions to the Library over these many years and is pleased to honor her as our Volunteer of the Year.