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Joyce Kitchell Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Joyce Kitchell
Damon Younger
July 19, 2017
She was a profound artist who was also a visionary. After I was inspired to write THE TINIEST CANDLE Joyce brought it to LIFE with her illustrations!! I will always be indebted to her genius.
Fred and Pat Sendra
October 23, 2008
We have many of her prints. They are beautiful. If they are any indication of her life, and we suspect they are, she was , truly, a beautiful woman.
Nancy Simmons
October 23, 2008
After 30 years, we met again. We were children in El Cajon, together as neighbors in the 1950's. Distance and lifestyles separated us until I saw notice of her show in San Diego and was able to visit her and her gorgeous paintings. Through the years I'd seen her commercial art, as distinctive and unforgettable as her personality. I'm so glad I was welcomed into her life in recent years.
Joyce had so much talent and intellect and shared so much beauty. I was always horored to be her country cousin.
Ed & Jody Abrams
October 22, 2008
I guess we thought she'd always be there and now we've missed it. We're fellow illustrators and we'd get together with Joyce for lunch every few months, at least once a year. We'd talk about art and what we were doing and new approaches we were excited about. I think Joyce enjoyed introducing us to her favorite restaurants and we enjoyed just being with her. She was an amazing artist and an even more amazing person. I have a beautiful peach sitting in my kitchen this morning and I look at it and think what a fantastic painting Joyce could do of that peach. She'd make it the prince of peaches.
Time went by too fast and we didn't get our lunch in. Joyce, we found a new French restaurant but it just won't be the same without you.
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Janice R. Gerde
October 21, 2008
While only briefly acquainted with Joyce many years ago at SDSU’s Art Department, a mutual friend often told me of her continuing artistic success, her varied pursuits, and her honored place in the lives of her many friends. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.
Mandi Garcia
October 20, 2008
I was one of Joyce's nurses through her last trial. Wow, there are so many thoughts and memories of her running through my mind. I just learned today of her passing and I am very saddened by it. I'm glad for her that she is done with all of those nasty needle pokes. She hated those so. She is definitely one of my very favorite patients that I have had the privilege to take care of. She came in to see me three days a week once a month for 6 months, and we had so much fun. At least I did, I know it was not the best time for her. I loved her quick wit, humor, and that soft side she so rarely would show. My very favorite memory of her was the day I told her my husband and I were trying to get pregnant. She asked; "Whatever would you do that for, diamonds are so much better." I will never forget that, but I will also never forget that as my belly grew so did Joyce's fondness for it. She would rub my belly and laugh at how I was always rubbing my belly. I know she would've been very entertained by my son. She always remembered me and thought of me. She turned me on to one of her favorite authors, Anne Lamott, and bought a very generous gift for my son. Unfortunately, he did not get to meet her. I also learned something new from her everytime I saw her. When she and Eugene would come in for her treatment, I would rarely get all my work done on time. Taking care of her was the best. When she would come to see me I would be so excited because it was like spending the day with a long lost friend. We never ran out of good conversation. Joyce, you will be missed. Have fun wherever you are.
Ann von Gal
October 20, 2008
Joyce and I took golf lessons together many, many years ago. LPGA never called us but whenever we saw each other the stories and laughter were invaluable.
Darren Rigg
October 20, 2008
On behalf of the Greyhound Adoption Center, I'd like to extend our condolences to Joyce's family and friends. Joyce clearly showed her care for the greyhounds through her adoptions of ex-racers Khianti and Blue, and her rescued greyhound-deerhound mix, Fergus. She also supported our organization and cause by contributing her talent -- creating beautiful greyhound watercolor paintings that we produced as cards and posters to raise funds, serving as photographer for us at times, and introducing us to contacts of hers in the art and design world for help on other projects. I know she will be missed personally by many of our greyhound people.
I'll always cherish my memories of Joyce. She really was a special person.
Tuko Fujisaki
October 19, 2008
I just happened to be in San Diego for a visit and saw this in today's paper. I'm very saddened by the news. I met her years ago when I lived here and she was definitely an inspiration! She was an awesome artist but I also remember her humor and spunk!
Jim Lennox
October 19, 2008
She was a stranger to no one and that includes me. I was a brief blip on this woman's radar, but she left a wonderful impression on me. I met her at dog park in Balboa Park. Me, with Tiki, my Shiba Inu and her with her Greyhound were the early birds. We would chat about so many things. She talked about her dinners with her girlfriends, her deceased husband, her art, her opinions on a broad range of topics. She was smart, clever and to me, a bit of a visionary. I was there after she learned of her cancer. She never complained. Yesterday I happen to catch the obituary in the paper and was saddened by this loss. I feel blessed to have met her. I didn't see her anymore after I moved back to the home we remodeled. I was only in that area of town for ten months as we waited for the contruction to finish. I would tell Joyce about the project. She liked architecutre. This kind of human connection is rare, but I have a feeling it's not that rare with her. I want to thank her for the time we spent so early in the park. I looked forward to seeing her each morning. My deepest sympanthy to her friends and family at this loss. May you find comfort in knowing that there are probably many more people like me, just a brief encounter who will carry a loving thought and memory of her in my heart from this day forward. I feel blessed for having the opportunity to have met her.
Bonnie & Nat Antler
October 19, 2008
While I didn't know Joyce that well, years ago she did delightful, insightful illustrations for me during my tenure at Psychology Today Magazine and CRM books. Later when she married Harry, we crossed paths and Harry remembered us as classmates at Point Loma High School. We remembered him as a clever iconoclast full of mischief and delighted in their pairing. Joyce and Harry were always a delight to see and we wished we had spent more time with Joyce after his passing. Her genuine interest and support of other artists and friends will be missed.
Bonnie and Nat Antler
October 19, 2008
While I didn't know Joyce that well, years ago she did delightful, insightful illustrations for me during my tenure at Psychology Today Magazine and CRM books. Later when she married Harry, we crossed paths and Harry remembered us as classmates at Point Loma High School. We remembered him as a clever iconoclast full of mischief and delighted in their pairing. Joyce and Harry were always a delight to see and we wished we had spent more time with Joyce after his passing. Her genuine interest and support of other artists and friends will be missed.
Kati Morneau
October 19, 2008
Joyce was our Placement Rep from the Greyhound Adoption Center in 1994. From the moment she and Blue entered our home for our pre-adoption visit, our lives were forever changed. With Joyce's approval we received the most special gift ever, our sweet boy Baxter, whom we lost a short time ago. I know in my heart that Baxter was waiting at the Rainbow Bridge, accompanied by Blue and Khianti, for Joyce, to ensure that she will always be surrounded by love and respect. With any greyhound we now bring into our lives, there will always be a part of Joyce in our hearts and home. I feel fortunate and am grateful to have been an acquaintance of Joyce, and to have known her special wit and humor.
Eugene de Kerguelen
October 18, 2008
"Pardon my dust."
-Dorothy Parker
Keisha Reis
October 18, 2008
I want to thank all of her dear friends that gathered so close to her. She will be missed.
Johnny Alamo
October 18, 2008
I was one of Joyces caregivers so I only got to know her for the last month in half of her life. She was a wonderful women and she touched my life dearly . I will miss her smile in the morning when I would wake her up for breakfest. I will never forget her (HELLO JOHNNY) I wish I could of know her longer but she was always surranded by friends they would stop by,on there lunch break or after work or at least call to ask how she was that day . Everyone was like family which they welcomed me not just as a caregiver but as a member of the family. She was not just a job for me she was a friend a mother. I can remember a time when we were walking back to her bedroom and she lost her balance and fell(of cource I was right there holding her )so as she sat on the floor I sat on the floor.I told her catch your breath for a second its just you and me but like the strong women she was she would get right back up and dash for the bed (me supporting her) She would climb into bed with such releif I would say rest take a nap as I covered her with her white quilt and she would close her eyes saying THANKYOU JOHNNY
GOOD BYE JOYCE :(
David Scroggy
October 18, 2008
It has been a tough week for me, losing two good and enormously talented friends in San Diego: sculptor A. Wasil and Joyce.
I got to know Joyce as we worked together forming a San Diego chapter of the west coast Society of Illustrators. I felt quite honored to be accepted as a part of this group since I was a fledgling illustrator's representative and the only non-practicing artist on the board.
I would often visit Joyce's lovely Mission Hills home during this time, and as we became friends I was treated to mega-doses of her insights into the aesthetics and business practices of commercial art, liberally seasoned with her witty and occasionally caustic (but always hilarious) sidebar commentary.
You had to pass muster to be on the inside of Joyce's circle of friends, but having arrived you quickly discovered that she was a loyal and supportive as any friend could be. She helped me in many ways- professionally and personally. I am grateful.
Illustrators often toil in anonymity- we see their work every day, but seldom know who created it. They are like entertainers who delight millions but never get to hear the applause of their audience. Well, here's a "bravo" to you, Joyce!
Sadly, we fell out of touch when I moved to Portland, but I will always treasure our friendship in the time we did have together. I am richer for it, as are many others.
Patricia Doering
October 18, 2008
I knew Joyce in the early 1970's, I believe, as an outstanding illustrator whom we hired for several advertisements, and as a very funny, likable and warm person. I regret that I did not see her over the years yet she is someone unforgotten, as she will be in the future. I send my sincere condolences to her friends and all those who worked with and knew her. May you journey well, Joyce with your animals by your side.
William Sweeney
October 18, 2008
I read with sadness today of Joyce's death. I was the beat cop for years in her neighborhood and enjoyed my visits to her studio and our conversations about everything in general. She encouraged me in my interest in art and lent me books and videos. It was always fun to stop by and catch up. She was a gracious and wonderful lady and will be missed.
Mary Ann Sullivan
October 18, 2008
Joyce was a wonderfully talented and generous woman. My sincere condolances to all of her family and friends. I like to believe that she is now with Harry, Chianti, Blue, and all the other souls that have been waiting for her so they can go for long walks in Heavens' version of Balboa Park.
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