Joan Kathleen (Huber) Eddy

Joan Kathleen Eddy passed away on August 23, 2023, at the age of 73 in Sacramento, CA.

Joan was the beloved wife of Greg Eddy who shared with her a love of travel, good food, and the power and wonder of the written and spoken word. Joan dedicated her life to teaching English with a firm belief in writing as an empowering force, leaving behind a legacy of students and colleagues who shared her belief. Many of her former students have gone on to mentor others, inspired by her support. Joan taught English for 8 years in the Modesto Unified School District, as well as 26 years in the Gilroy Unified School District. For 3 years, she worked with credential candidates as they entered the teaching profession (Merrill College, University of California at Santa Cruz). During the heart of her career, Joan was a fellow and trainer with the prestigious Bay Area Writing Project (UC Berkeley), as well as the Central California Writing Project (UC Santa Cruz). Joan was also a fellow and certified trainer with Amherst Writers and Artists.

Strength of character and tenacity are two words that describe Joan. In her late teens, while swimming in the ocean in Southern California, she was caught by a riptide and swept out to sea. Clinging to a bed of seaweed with a lot of determination, she waited for hours to be rescued. At the age of 40, she dipped her bike in the Pacific Ocean on a summer day in Washington. Two months later, she dipped her bike again, this time in the Atlantic Ocean in Maine.

At the age of 45, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and told to put her affairs in order. Instead, true to her character, she fought back. With the help of medical and drug breakthroughs, perseverance, and raw courage, she prevailed.

In addition to her passion for teaching, Joan was also a poet, whose poetry has appeared in small literary journals around the country. She was an avid organic gardener, using square-foot gardening techniques to grow tasty vegetables. You could often find her in the backyard admiring her tomatoes and peppers. A gourmet cook and lover of fine wines, Joan included veggies from her garden in her many recipes.

Joan is survived by her husband Greg Eddy; goddaughter Krysi Vo-Khuong; sister Mary Wilson and her husband John; brother Mark Huber and his wife Anita; sister-in-law Pam Umann; and 7 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Joan's life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at The Table at Central United Methodist Church, 5265 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Joan's name to either The Poetry Foundation or Opening Doors.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · September 11, 2023