JOAN BARBARA GOLD

GOLD, Joan Barbara Of Marshfield, MA died gracefully and peacefully Friday September 14 in the loving embrace of family at the Mary McCarthy Hospice House in Sandwich, MA at the age of 65 following a 10-year fight with metastatic breast cancer. The daughter of the late Sir Joseph and Ruth Gold of Bethesda, MD, Ms. Gold was born in Washington D.C. May 31, 1947. She is survived by her husband, Joe Weinman of Marshfield, her sister Julia Gold (Bob Zielinski) of Omaha, NE, her brother Richard Gold (Alice) of Columbus, IN, nephews Joseph Zielinski, Nick Zielinski (Jessi), Aaron Gold, Andrew Gold and nieces Rachel Gold and Shea Wilkinson (Jake Koster). Also surviving her are Jeff Weinman (Claudia), Laura Slomiak (Bret), Matt Weinman (Michelle), Cindy Whipple (Herbert) and 11 grandchildren. Ms. Gold found her lifelong career passion as a caregiver after graduating from Laboure Junior College in Dorchester, MA with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1975. Eleven years later, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of MA with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Her career was characterized not only by her excellent clinical skills in nursing, but a devotion to service for those less fortunate or in harm's way. Her early years were spent with The Tufts New England Medical Center Hospital and the Kennedy Memorial Hospital for Children. In 1980, she began 30-plus years of service to those less able to access conventional medical care due to mental health, homelessness, AIDS, drug addiction or poverty. This started with a six-year stint at the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston and then Cambridge; followed by work in public health at Boston City Hospital and the Framingham State Prison for Women. From 1988 to 2003 she served the clientele of Pine Street in numerous capacities, from serving homeless patients on the streets of Boston to head nurse of the Women's Clinic. This was followed by almost a decade of service to underprivileged clientele at the Women of Means and then as Admissions Nurse at the Barbara McInnis House, part of the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. Her work spanned delivering triage care to supporting clients in regaining self sufficiency and independence. It was at Pine Street that she met her partner-in-life and husband, Joseph Weinman. All of her work was characterized by a remarkable capacity for listening and compassion in things both big and small - touching patients both clinically and emotionally. She was submitted for a Massachusetts Department of Public Health recognition award at Women of Means. In 2007 she was nominated as an Unsung Heroine by a Commissioner for the MA Commission on the Status of Women. In 2011 when Women of Means celebrated its 10th Anniversary, Ms. Gold was feted as one of the honorees. Ms. Gold will be cremated. A Sweet Celebration of Life for friends and family will be conducted at the Barbara McInnis House, made sweeter by Ms. Gold's passion for ice cream and sweet toppings. In lieu of flowers, she has suggested memorial contributions may be made to the Innocence Project, 40 Worth St, Suite 701, New York, NY 10013, The Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104 or to the Joanie Angel Fund for the benefit of clients of BHCHP, care of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, 780 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118; www.bhchp.org Questions or online condolences may be expressed at www.welovejoanie.com.