Joan Mitchell

While I was in graduate school, I read an article by Joan Mitchell, an outstanding female scientist working at IBM T.J. Watson, and the first female IBM fellow. As a woman in physics, I was so touched by her article that I wrote to the magazine editor, and asked for the permission to write to her, which she agreed to. Thus started our mentoring relationship. I finally got a chance to meet her when she came to give a talk at the University of Washington Mentoring for Leadership Series. I...

I was very sorry to hear from past JPEG colleagues of the early death of Joan. I worked with Joan during the late 80s on the original JPEG image coding standardisation activity. Joan was an IBM/USA delegate during my chairmanship of JPEG. I found Joan a quiet, thoughtful, cooperative person driven by a scientific mind. As well as contributing to the technical development, she, along with IBM colleague and fellow JPEG delegate William Pennebaker, has left a legacy of the now standard...

I have just learned that Joan has passed away already at the end of 2015. With Joan we have worked together on the JPEG standard since March of 1987 when the selection of the JPEG algorithm started. The IBM candidate method for JPEG, that came in in the very last minute was actually not the winning one, but it was absolutely critical how professionally the IBM people, including Joan have dealt with the situation. They admitted that they were not the best, but joined the winning technique and...

I only learned of Joan's passing a few months ago and then found this site today. Joan and Keith Pennington were responsible for taking a chance and hiring me to IBM. My background was not a good fit for what they were looking for, but they were willing to look over that aspect and dig deeper and see my potential for contribution beyond the titles in the diplomas or my prior experience. I think that act exemplifies one positive aspect of Joan's personality and wisdom. Joan was very passionate...

We had worked together on data compression algorithms at IBM Research in the 1980's and I had the highest respect for her intellect and business savvy. I just learned today that Joan had died. The world will be worse for her absence.

Joan was one of truly great minds of our age.

I had the pleasure of working with Joan for a number of years in the IBM Printing Systems Division. Joan was a caring person who was always trying to make the world a better place. I am glad to have known her.

I remember when Joan took my husband and I out to dinner in Niwot several years. Joan was passionate about her job and helping others move up in theirs. She will be missed.