Joan Ruth Laverty

July 18, 1921 - August 18, 2014 Joan Ruth Laverty passed away August 18 in Santa Monica. She was 93. Joan Wright (maiden name) was born in Los Angeles on July 18, 1921 to Douglas C. Wright and Henrietta Mauldin. She graduated from Beverly Hills High School, where she met the love of her life, Roger M. Laverty, Jr., and attended UCLA before marrying Roger in November, 1943. They were married for 70 years and lived in Santa Monica. After Roger served in the Navy during WWII, he and Joan had four children: Roger III (Rocky), Jan, Pat and Mary. Joan had a unique combination of determination and grace that was always evident. After a tragic airplane accident in 1969, in which she and Roger were both severely injured, she was determined to not let her disabilities stop her from doing anything she wanted to do. This included playing golf with one leg 4 inches shorter than the other, swinging with one hand and holding her crutch in the other. She once asked Roger if a new driver would add some distance! She overcame these and other challenges to lead an extremely active life and went on to be a loving grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of two, to whom she was known as "Nana". She always cared more about the ones she loved than herself and hung on as long as she did to make sure the "kids" were okay. Her beauty and grace along with her bravery, strength and resilience shone through into her 90's. She never forgot a face even if the names became harder to retrieve. Yearly "grandparent trips" with her grandchildren were cherished memories for both her and her grandchildren. Joan was cremated and will be buried at sea. A memorial celebrating her life is to be announced.