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Joan Leonard Stephanak
Norwalk Native
Joan Leonard Stephanak, the wife of Dr. William F. Stephanak, DDS, and mother of two sons and two daughters, lost her courageous battle after a four and a half year battle with ovarian cancer on July 31st, 2012. She was 75. Joan was a native of Norwalk, until a recent move to Westport.
Mrs. Stephanak was a vivaciously beautiful woman with an easy smile and a great appreciation for fun and good humor. An ever-engaging redhead, Mrs. Stephanak was an excellent conversationalist; someone you hoped to be put next to at a dinner party. She was a gracious hostess who put her many friends and guests at ease. Joan enjoyed many nail-biting tennis matches and rounds of golf at the Shorehaven Golf Club, where she was a member for 43 years. While she wasn't a perennial champion, she enjoyed success in both sports. She and her husband were a mixed doubles combination in the net game where she was remembered for leading impressive comebacks. Her most notable achievement on the links was at the club in 2002, where she was thrilled to win the Sudman Cup, awarded to women playing to their full handicaps.
Joan was the youngest of three daughters of the late John H. and Lillian Curren Leonard. She was an alumna of St. Mary's School and of Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford. As far as her higher education is concerned, Mrs. Stephanak received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Manhattanville College in 1958. Joan later returned to St Mary's School, teaching fourth grade after her marriage to Dr. Stephanak, a surgical resident at Bellevue Hospital at the time. Joan and Bill had known each other since childhood, but did not start dating until she had reached college. They married on July 12, 1958, and they toasted each each other again on that date this year after 54 years! Also raising glasses that day were Dr. Albert V. Burke, MD, and his wife, Norma Carlson Burke who wed on the same day. The two couples had met by chance on a plane to Bermuda several hours after their weddings and en route to their honeymoons. They became lifelong friends, marking their annual wedding anniversaries together.
Mrs. Stephanak also served many years on the Women's Board of Norwalk Hospital. As a committed board member, Joan devoted her time to The Treasure House, the hospital's thrift shop. With their keen eye for style and design, she, along with her dear friend, Mary Gallagher, created fantastic window displays that surely brought in many customers.
Mrs. Stephanak is survived by her daughters Susan Stephanak Bell (Stuart) of Southport and Joan Stephanak Shanley (Thomas) of Fairfield; her son, Brian J. Stephanak (Rosamond Koether) of Westport; seven grandchildren - Curren Bell, Kylie Bell, Ian Bell, Tucker Shanley, Jane Shanley, Dobson Cooper and Shane Cooper. Sisters Roberta Leonard Jones (Robert Jones) and Nancy Leonard O'Connor (the late Dr. Jeremiah O'Connor, DDS,) Liz Vereha (the family's lifelong friend) several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her son William F. Stephanak, Jr. in 1980.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, August 6, 2012 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery, Richards Ave., Norwalk. Friends may call at the Magner Funeral, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk on Sunday, August 5, 2012 from 3 to 7 pm.
Memorials may be made to the Whittingham Cancer Center of Norwalk Hospital, 24 Stevens St., 06854 or to the William F. Stephanak, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Fairfield Prep. 1037 North Benson Rd., Fairfield, 06824. For directions or to sign an online guest book, please go to magnerfuneralhome.com.
Published in The Hour from August 2 to August 3, 2012
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