Joanne Leo

1955 - 2021

Joanne Leo
January 3, 2021
Citrus Heights, California - Joanne Leo Schmidt was born January 2, 1955 at Mather Air Force Base hospital near Sacramento California. She was the daughter of Lt. Col. Joseph Leo and Annabelle Leo. After Sacramento, her family moved to Maine for two years then to Austin Texas where Joanne attended Harris Elementary school, took piano and learned gymnastics. From a neighbor there, she learned to polish gem stones and make them into jewelry. In 1963, her father was transferred to Kincheloe Air Force Base in Limestone, Michigan where Joanne attended junior high school in Rudyard Michigan. Her family then moved to to Fort Collins, Colorado where Joanne attended Poudre High School and then the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO where she majored in theatre. After one year she transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins and majored in history. She graduated with a bachelors degree in 1977. She then studied language and culture at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, Russia. She was fluent in Russian. Afterwards, Joanne moved to California, attended Western State College of Law in Irvine and earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 1985.
Also in 1985 she married Douglas Paul Schmidt and later had two children in Brea, California where they lived for over 30 years. Joanne lives on through Annabelle Leo (mother), Ed Leo (brother), Eva Dayananthan (daughter) who is married to Ashok Dayananthan (son-in-law), Alexander Schmidt (son), Annabelle, Eleanor and Audrey Dayananthan (granddaughters), Sammie Leo (niece), and David Leo (nephew).
Joanne was known for her creativity, intelligence, resourcefulness and wicked sense of humor. Her boundless love, generosity, kindness, and genuine selflessness sparked deep and timeless connections to those around her. She crafted jewelry and costumes, and cooked with great passion. She was very knowledgeable in history, politics, law, and literature. She was a teacher for almost 20 years. During that time she taught junior high school students and was appreciated for her quirky traits as a teacher such as striking a small gong next to students who would fall asleep during class.
Joanne sold her home and moved to Citrus Heights, California (near Sacramento) in 2014. She passed away in her home in Citrus Heights on January 3, 2021 due to complications from breast cancer with her children, Eva and Alexander, by her bedside. Joanne will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Joanne was a fierce advocate for victims of domestic abuse. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WEAVE, a Sacramento based organization that provides resources for abuse victims: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=weave&id=180