Joan Cushwa Baer

Joan Cushwa Baer loved Washington County and resided here most of her life. She often observed, as she returned from some shorter or longer trip, "The mountains are very blue today." Joan traveled extensively, collecting antiques wherever she went. Her knowledge of antiques and of the history of Washington County earned her two terms on the Board of Washington County Historical Society.
Joan was also a Master Gardener and a long-time member of the Hagerstown Garden Club, which awarded her numerous blue ribbons. She was in the habit of visiting famous gardens whenever in their vicinity, in this country or abroad.
Joan loved to dance, at Penn Mar and at Fountainhead Country Club, where she also liked to golf. In later years, she resided in Port Ste. Lucie, Florida during the winter and spring: living right on the golf course.
For many years, Joan served on the Boards of the family businesses, Victor Cushwa & Sons and Cushwa Brick Company. She also served on the Board of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. She owned and operated Green Spring Water Co. from 1988 to 2015, as well as Professional Arts Associates from 2006 to 2016.
Joan died in her sleep at home in Hagerstown, aged 96, on September 7, 2025. She was born on December 29, 1928, third daughter of David Kreigh Cushwa, Jr. and Ida Ramacciotti Cushwa of Williamsport. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Stephen Frederic Schoen, Sr. and by her second husband, John Metz Baer, as well as by her sons, Christopher Cushwa Schoen and Stephen Frederic Schoen, Jr., and by her brother and sister, David K. Cushwa III and Louisa C. McDonald. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Cushwa Schoen of Hagerstown and by her son, Peter Monroe Schoen of Blue Ridge Summit, PA. She is also survived by her sister, M.J. Houle of Maryland, Connecticut and Florida and by her granddaughters, Margaret Schoen Patterson of Inwood, WV and Catherine Elizabeth Schoen of Hagerstown. She had one great-grandchild, Malachi Schoen.
Joan was a graduate of St. Mary's High School, Class of 1946, and of the College of New Rochelle, Class of 1950. She was devoted to her college pals and never missed a reunion. She earned her Masters from Shippensburg University in 1968. She was one of the first trained kindergarten teachers in the State of Maryland, having received specialized post-graduate education at the University of Maryland prior to beginning to teach. Joan taught in public schools in Montgomery and Washington Counties for eighteen years.
As Joan was a long-time member of St. Ann's Church her funeral mass will be held there in the Byzantine Chapel, 1525 Oak Hill Ave., Hagerstown, MD, at 10:00 the morning of Friday, September 12. Visitation at Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD, will be from 6 - 8 p.m. the evening of Thursday, September 11, in the chapel. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery immediately following the funeral mass on Friday the 12th.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Washington County, 1710 Underpass Way, Suite 300, Hagerstown, MD 21740, which we profoundly thank. Our gratitude is likewise extended to Joan's friends and helpers, Deb Gladhill, Jannie Golden and Marcelina Tsea.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com