Joanne Hively 1932 - 2016

Joanne Hively

Joanne Hively, 84, long time Friends of the Library volunteer, Hospice pioneer and hike leader died at home in Mill Valley on Saturday November 4 after a period of declining health. She was a 2015 Milley Award recipient honored by the Mill Valley Arts Commission for her leadership of the Friends of the Mill Valley Library and for her groundbreaking work at Hospice of Marin as when it was the first residential Hospice in the nation.

She served 20 years on the Friends of the Library Board, and in 2005 the Friends named the library Bookstore for her, stating; “She has been involved in every event of major significance for the Friends and for the library since 1984, and often she has been the catalyst and driving force.”

In 1993 after six years on the Library's Board of Trustees she was named State of California Library Trustee of the Year. As one fellow volunteer wrote in support; “Among Joanne’s many attributes are her great gifts for getting along with people, for finding the necessary compromise when wills clash, for soothing fevered brows, and for rising above the pettiness that sometimes arises between people. She has accomplished so much it is hard to remember it all, and much of it under the shadow of a grave and life threatening illness. Joanne Hively is the best friend the Mill valley Library ever had.” Joanne did most of her volunteer work at the library after surviving four primary cancers.

In 2001 she introduced Monday Night at the Movies which ran until last May.

In 1975 Joanne began volunteering at Hospice of Marin and soon joined the staff as Public Information Director and then Education Director charged with explaining the new Hospice concept and services to the public, to families and to hospitals and doctors. She wrote the first Hospice brochure, started its first newsletter, recruited speakers, organized educational conferences, lobbied the legislature, wrote grant proposals and helped develop policies and guidelines for Hospice care.

Born Mary Joan Bath in Omaha Nebraska in 1932, Joanne was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Creighton University. She came to the Bay area in 1956 with her first husband, Bill Gemars. Following their divorce Joanne settled in Mill Valley. In 1962 she married her second husband, Ray Hively, the head of the Kaiser ER in San Francisco. He drowned trying to save another swimmer off the Mendocino Coast. In 1983 Joanne Married Tom Slattery a Sierra Club hike leader. They met on a hike, and after his death at the Redwoods in 1998 Joanne formed her own hiking group, balancing the scenic beauty, variety of terrain and physical challenge appropriate to the group.

She is survived by her son, Peter Hively of San Anselmo, her brother Dave Baden of Prior Lake Minnesota, stepson Sherrick Slattery and her partner David Robinson.

Plans for a memorial are pending. Contributions in Joanne’s name can be made to the Friends of the Mill Valley Library or to Homeward Bound of Marin.

Contacts: Peter Hively (415) 377-1425 peterhively@yahoo.com

David Robinson (415) 793-0694 drphotos@aol.com