Obituary: Jo-Ann D. Pearson, 83, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Jo-Ann D. Pearson, 83, passed away on Tuesday January 24, 2023 at the Whitney Center in Hamden, CT. She was born in Binghamton, N.Y. on July 9, 1939, to the late Raymond and Barbara Darrow. She was the loving wife of the late David A. Pearson. She is survived by her children, Karin E. Pearson (Jon Brady) of Milton, MA and son, Mark D. Pearson of San Diego, CA; her grandchildren, Samuel Brady and Zachary Brady of Milton, MA, and Skyrah Pearson of San Diego, CA; her brother, Bruce Darrow (Susan) of Albany, NY; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Jo graduated with salutation honors from Whitney Point Central School in Whitney Point, N.Y. She matriculated at George Washington University. Jo married Dave, the love of her life, in 1958 and they spent several years in Alexandria, VA before moving to Branford, CT In 1968. Jo cherished the time raising her children in Branford and actively participated in various community events.

Her professional career included senior administrative assistant positions at Cornell University Sloan Institute of Hospital Administration, the Central New York Regional Hospital Council, the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Yale New Haven Hospital, and Yale University Development Office. She also held editorial responsibilities for Inquiry, an academic journal focusing on health care organization, financing, and delivery; and Group Health Association of America in Washington D.C. She loved children and served for many years as a teacher at the Pine Orchard Nursery School in Branford, CT.

Jo shared in the family’s love of the water and much of the summers were spent sailing through the Thimble Islands on Long Island Sound in the family catboat, Andante Cantabile. For over three decades, Jo contributed significantly to The Catboat Association. She served on its Governing Committee and was Chair of its Awards Committee. For over a decade she and Dave hosted two annual catboat races out of Pine Orchard in Branford. In addition, she and Dave inaugurated the Catboat Association’s publication program and Jo served as an editor of the Association’s monthly Bulletin. In 2000, she received the Association’s Dolphin Award “recognizing exceptional service to the Catboat Association.”

When not attending her children’s extracurricular activities, Jo volunteered for various organizations including Branford Petit Ballet, the Connecticut Ballet, and Yale Youth Hockey. She and Dave were the originators of Eli Youth Lacrosse where Jo was a member of its Board of Directors and its Publicity Committee. She was a member of Yale University Women’s Organization and was a mainstay of its Scholarship Committee.

Jo loved Dave dearly and cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was an avid gardener and also enjoyed poetry, birding, singing, traveling, annual Cape Cod vacations, Yale hockey games, classical music, and correcting her children’s grammar. She had a long-time reputation of having a very good sense of humor. Jo will be dearly missed by her family.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1109 Main Street in Branford, CT on Saturday February 11 at 11:00 A.M. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford is in care of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Branford Cares, 30 Harrison Avenue, Branford, CT 06405 or the Alzheimer’s Association.