REST IN PEACE
Former physics professor and beloved friend and teacher to many, died of cancer at Charlestown, the Erickson Retirement Community in Catonsville MD, on Saturday, August 20, 2016.
Joan''s distinguished career as an educator spanned five decades - as elementary school teacher in parochial schools in the New York city area, as high school teacher (physics and math) in Goshen NY and Wayne NJ, and finally as physics professor for more than two decades at George Mason University in Fairfax VA. Student evaluations always ranked her among the most effective and admired teachers.
A native of New York City, she graduated from St. Michael''s Academy in Manhattan, then served for 25 years as a Presentation Sister, securing a Bachelor''s degree from Fordham and a Master''s degree in physics from Manhattan College.
In 1976, she married Anthony P. Kowalski at Holy Trinity Jesuit parish in Georgetown, where they actively participated with their son for more than three decades. She secured a doctorate from the University of Virginia and continued her teaching career at George Mason University. They retired in 2001 and moved to Charlestown in 2008.
She is survived by her husband, Anthony of Catonsville; one son, John Patrick Kowalski (wife Brenda Cho) of Northern Virginia; two grandchildren, Frances and Thaddeus; a brother, William Sullivan (wife Sheila Cronin) of Raleigh NC; sister-in-law Madeline Sullivan of Burlington VT, many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Eileen Campbell and brother, John Sullivan.
Memorial services will be held at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown on Saturday, September 10 at 11 a.m. Contributions in her memory can be made to Sisters of the Presentation (Mt. St. Joseph, 84 Presentation Way, New Windsor, NY 12553).