Joy Humphreys

HUMPHREYS
Joy Christine (nee Strong), 83, of Wayne, NJ, died August 12, 2012. The daughter of Roland and Christine Strong of Sayville, Long Island, Joy graduated from Dickinson College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She married that year her college sweetheart, Burrell Ives Humphreys. The couple have lived in Wayne, NJ for over 50 years.
Joy helped found many organizations including the ARC of Bergen and Passaic County, Explorer Post 136 for the handicapped, the Wayne Racquet Club, the Passaic County Chapter of the United World Federalists, the Lakeland Unitarian Church, and the Wayne Social Action Council of Churches seeking to remove obstacles for minorities in obtaining housing in the suburbs. She was active in the League of Women Voters and other community organizations and a strong advocate for housing opportunities, recreation and inclusion in public schools for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was also the Director of nursery schools for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Essex County.
In 2007, she received the Humanitarian Award from the ARC, and was recognized by the New Jersey Legislature for her meritorious service and commitment to those with special needs.
She enjoyed tournament bridge, tennis, travel and, most of all, raising her children and grandchildren and spending time with her many friends.
She was a nationally ranked Gold Life Master bridge player, an accomplished bridge teacher and the 'steady hand' in every partnership. At age 80 she won the New England Master Regional bridge championship defeating in the final match a team of world ranked professional bridge players.
A gentle and kind soul, Joy was loved by so many. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Burrell Ives Humphreys, a retired Judge of the Superior Court, her children Gay K. Humphreys, Bruce Humphreys and his wife Patricia Humphreys, Jill R. Eisemann and her husband Douglas Eisemann, her cherished grandchildren Ryan Humphreys, Steven Humphreys, Peter Eisemann and Juliet Eisemann, and her many friends and admirers. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she enriched.
A memorial service will be conducted on Sunday, August 26, 2012 at 1 PM at the Lakeland Unitarian Fellowship, 231 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ARC of Bergen & Passaic County at 190 Moore Street, Hackensack, NJ. Arrangements are by the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains.
www.scanlanfuneral.com