Joan Connolly Hamm

Our hearts ache as we say goodbye to Joan Connolly Hamm, a loving mother, wife, and Oma, who passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 4th, 2025, at the age of 69, in Columbus, OH. Born on March 20, 1956 in Cedar Falls, Iowa to parents, Angelina and Paul Connolly, Joan was always wise beyond her years. She proudly graduated from The Ohio State University in three years and passed her CPA exam soon after. She was beauty and brains and a force to be reckoned with. She worked in radio broadcasting as a controller for the majority of her career, most recently at Clear Channel. She also served on the board of directors of the Broadcast Financial Managers Association. In her role with them she gave many seminars and spoke frequently to her peers. In her free time, she served as treasurer for Lavender Ribbons, a fundraiser to support children's cancer services.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, she was a loving wife to Steven, a devoted mother to Carolyn and doting Oma to her grandsons, Noah and Benedict. Her favorite pastimes were getting coffee on Saturday morning with her daughter and grandsons and road trips all over the country with her husband. She loved to read and frequented the library weekly. She was also a lover of the arts, spending much of her time with her daughter at the theatre, specifically to enjoy ballet. She leaves behind a legacy of love and hard work that is unmatched and she will be missed dearly by those who loved her. No one can say it better than her grandson, Benny, "she will live on in our hearts always." At six years old, he too, is wise beyond his years, just like his Oma.
She is survived by her husband Steven, daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Matt, and her grandsons, Noah and Benedict. She is also survived by her sister, Christine and her children Quinn and Sara. She was predeceased by her parents Angelina Geiger and Paul Connolly and her stepfather Martin Dupler.
There will be a celebration of life held in her memory on Sunday, April 27th, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 437 Fallriver Drive, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Arthritis Foundation.