Joan "Joanie" Prentice Durgin

Joan "Joanie" Prentice Durgin, age 80, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on Saturday, December 24, 2022, in Scarborough, ME, after a long battle with dementia. Joan, always loving, kind, and compassionate, was born on December 7, 1942, in New Orleans, LA to Betty and Robert Lipton.

She was a lifelong Toledo civil servant and family planning educator and was adored by all who knew her. Her family and friends cherished her warm heart, long hugs, laugh, infectious smile and her love of baking, flowers, gardening, family gatherings and holidays. She taught her family the importance of being positive, philanthropic, hardworking, and appreciative.

Joan was raised in Shaker Heights, OH. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL and with a Master of Education degree from The University of Toledo. In 1972, Joan began her over 30 year career in the Toledo Public School System. She worked as a family life specialist, where she developed and implemented human growth and development programs. As the Toledo Public School's Coordinator of Health Services, she was instrumental in the development of comprehensive school clinics in central-city elementary schools. She also expanded the school nursing program.

When Joan was working as Director of Health services for TPS in the early 1990s, two sixth-grade girls became pregnant. Joan felt it important to find an alternative option for all pregnant or parenting teenage girls in the Toledo area. Thereafter, Polly Fox Academy, named after Joan's mentor, was born. For sixteen years, Joan served as the Founder and Development Director. Polly Fox Academy's mission was to assist young women to find a path to the future that included graduation, post-secondary education, parenting, and employability skills.

Through her passion, love, and dedication, Joan tirelessly advocated for advancing the lives of young parenting and pregnant teens. People who knew Joan described her as an innovative leader, tireless, and a pioneer on behalf of young women.

In 2009, in recognition of her outstanding contributions in education, Joan was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. She was also a recipient of the Milestone Award through the Toledo YWCA. In 2013, she received the Toledo Area Jefferson Award for her decades of commitment to community service with organizations such as the Toledo Area AIDS Task Force, Coalition for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Toledo Day Nursery, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Ohio State School-Based Health Centers, Phoenix Academy, Polly Fox Academy, the United Way Women's Initiative, and Toledo Children's Hospital. Joan also served on the boards of the Junior League of Toledo, the Toledo Museum of Art Membership Drive, committees for Promedica Hospital, and St Michael's Episcopal Church.

Joan is survived by her husband, Rod Durgin of 39 years; her children: daughters, Courtney (Jason) Kuhn, Lindsey (Sean) Hickey, Meredith Durgin, Leslie Durgin (Erik) Szymczak and son, Peter (Beth) Handwork. She is also survived by 8 beautiful grandchildren, Alexandra, Graham, Caden, Phoebe, Whitney, Will, Fionn, and Eva. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert "Chip" Lipton.

Over the years, Joan enjoyed family vacations skiing "out west" and summer vacations in Maine.

The family wishes to give heartfelt thanks to all of Joan's caregivers and especially to Sarah Shew, a dear lifelong family friend who provided incredible loving care, navigation, and emotional support to Joan and the entire family. They also wish to thank Piper Shores in Scarborough, ME for providing Joan with excellent care and kindness during the remaining months of her life. The family is grateful for the love, devotion and compassion Rod provided to Joan throughout her illness.

A memorial service and celebration of Joan's life will be held in May at The Toledo Club.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joan's name to Planned Parenthood, the Alzheimer's Association, or St. Michael's in the Hills. Arrangements have been made by the Ansberg-West Funeral Directors, 419-472-7633. To send her family online condolences, please visit www.ansberg-west.com.

"don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened"

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Published by The Blade on Jan. 1, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Joan Durgin

12 Entries

Alan Sawyer

January 18, 2024

It has been quite a while since Cindy and I met Joan. But we well remember her as a classy person who enthusiastically loved her family and eagerly shared with and helped others.

Alan and Cindy Sawyer

Cary Kaufman

January 17, 2023

Handwork / Drugin family, I just heard that you lost your mom.
Please know that everyone who came in contact with her is a much better person. As my neighbor, teacher 8th grade student and your lawn boy. I am thankful that she touched my life.
Cherish the memories and wonderful experiences you have shared.
You are in my prayers.
Cary Kaufman

Krystina McClure-Livingston

January 12, 2023

Joan truly was an amazing women who changed many lives. She is the only reason I was able to graduate high school and go on to college to make something of myself. She encouraged me everyday to stay in school despite my struggles and helped to pay for childcare for my daughter so that I could attend school. She also helped me to get into Mercy College Of Northwest Ohio. She had a heart of gold and cared about every student. I'm so sorry to her family for such a heartbreaking loss.

Bari Newcombe

January 10, 2023

Joanie my heart is saddened in seeing this. Our common bond of gardening and birds gave us many hours of great conversations that I'll always cherish. Such a beautiful person inside and out. Your compassion and kindness made us want to be around you. Prayers for Rod and your family, you truly were a gem.

Christine Wasserman

January 8, 2023

What an incredible loss. I had the great privilege of knowing Joan through community volunteerism years ago and will always remember her strength, kindness and passion for helping teens. She´s left an indelible impression on living life gracefully, with purpose and compassion. My sincere sympathy and prayers for Rod, her family and many friends.

Tim Jordan, Ph.D., M.Ed.

January 5, 2023

The world lost a great champion of student health, in particular female students when Joan died! I first met Joan around 1992-1993. She was the Director of Health Education for Toledo Public Schools and was starting the Polly Fox Academy for pregnant and parenting girls in Toledo. I was a young professor with very little federal grant experience. A friend and colleague at UToledo, Susan Telljohann, asked me if I would help Joan write a federal grant to support Polly Fox Academy. Even though I had never written a federal grant before, I said, "YES." Evening after evening, Joan and I worked shoulder to shoulder on that grant application. It seemed like months! We had so many stacks of paper that we had to put a folding table outside my office door to hold all the stacks. Lo and behold, we won the grant and Joan got several million for Polly Fox Academy. I and Drs. Jim Price and Joe Dake helped her for many years with program evaluation, program design, strategic planning, and just being supporters for what she was doing. Joan was tremendous! When I was in her presence, she was like another mom to me. Very warm, welcoming, and nurturing. I can still hear her voice and see her genuine smile. "Tim," she would say when she saw me. Then she would flash that golden smile of hers and then we would usually hug. Joan, I do not know if you can read this or not or know what I am thinking as I write it. However, I want to say "thank you" for all that you did in your career and "thank you" for being my friend. You will be greatly missed on this little blue planet. There are few like you!

Tobin

January 2, 2023

It's easy to tell everyone what you believe, it's another to live out those beliefs with action on a daily basis. Joanie showed us all what kindness and compassion looked liked in skin. She was a treasure and I am blessed to have known her.

Sue

January 2, 2023

I had the pleasure of meeting Joan years ago, as a nail tech at a local salon. I always looked forward to the time we spent together, and loved it when she sent her daughters in as well! She genuinely was the kindest, nicest person I have been blessed to meet. May her family find some comfort knowing she is now resting comfortably in the arms of our Lord.

Patty Radabaugh

January 2, 2023

Joanie was the trifecta of kindness, devotion, and purposefulness. I met her 35 years ago through my dear friend and neighbor, Polly Fox. As Polly's health declined, Joanie and I interacted very frequently in our help, care, and concerns for Polly. We are ever grateful for all she did to make this world brighter. Our thoughts and prayers are for Rod, and the kiddos ... we are so very sorry.

Debra A. Nazar (NY/Old Lyme, CT)

January 1, 2023

I have met few people in my now long life who believed/believe in the concept of unconditional love and who demonstrate/demonstrated such both in words and action. To state Joan (Handwork) Durgin did so, is an understatement.

Jaime Brown

December 30, 2022

Joan touched so many people´s lives and was an amazing support to me when I was blessed to work with her. I got to be a part of the health clinics she was a huge part of organizing and she was a great advocate not only for myself but all of the students and staff she worked with, when our paths crossed again at Phoenix and Polly Fox Academies. She loved to share stories of her family-she was one of a kind and an amazing woman. Prayers and thoughts with all of Joan´s family.

Kiersten Robinson

December 30, 2022

I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember Joanie for her kindness and beautiful smile. I love seeing her at Garden Club.

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 results