JOAN ARMSTRONG

Legendary coach Joan Armstrong who fostered excellence and character in thousands of young athletes at Skagit Valley College and other area schools died Aug. 5, 2008. She was 71.

Joan, or "Coach," as her athletes and students fondly called her was born in Seattle on June 21, 1937 and raised in LaConner by her parents, Douglas Armstrong and Georgia "Cressey" Armstrong, and her beloved Grandma Armstrong. Joan loved the farm, and it was there bucking hay and driving machinery under the gaze of the Cascades, that she developed a life-long commitment to hard work and perseverance.

An outstanding student-athlete, Joan played varsity field hockey, basketball and tennis at the University of Washington where she graduated in 1960 with a Masters Degree in education.

Joan - who was inducted into top-flight competition as one of Olympic gymnastics star, Cathy Rigby's coaches - in 1961 brought more sophisticated and rigorous training programs to Skagit's men and women athletes. She asked for the same kind of dedication in her challenging anatomy and physiology classes.

Her inspiration, grounded in an unshakeable faith that her athletes, students, colleagues and friends, were capable of great things, resulted in dozens of championships and individuals who fulfilled their potential at the college, or even national level.

At Skagit Valley her leadership genius was recognized when the new tennis complex recently was named in her honor.
Joan received her doctorate degree from Brigham Young University in 1974, and later coached field hockey at Western Washington University. She was an assistant coach of the boys and girls tennis teams at Sehome High School last year even as she struggled with the final stages of cancer, but her enthusiasm never waivered for a moment and she never missed a match.

Joan felt like all her athletes and students were her "kids," and she took pride in every one of them. But, she reserved the holidays and many other times for her two special families: the Silverthorns originally from Sedro-Woolley and the Sathers of Oak Harbor. With them, she was family and her generosity and fondness for them was boundless. The Silverthorns particularly remember the annual holiday shopping trip.

She loved to travel, especially with the kids to Disneyland, enjoyed her beach home and boat, and delighted in dinners and spontaneous visits with a remarkably large circle of friends.

Joan had the kind of spirit that found God everywhere. She saw the best in everyone with a sincerity and joy that gave her that wonderful smile, and all that wisdom behind those eyes.

She was loved deeply and will be missed. Joan is survived by members of the Sather family:
Marcus Sather of Oak Harbor, Marie Sather of Bellingham and her children Anna and Taylor, Jerry Sather of Oak Harbor, Mike Sather of LaConner, Judy (Sather) Vanausdale-Haven and Skip of Rapid City, South Dakota, Jack Sather of Mt. Vernon and Melanie (Sather) Sutton. Tanya Skeers and her husband Ben of Mt. Vernon and children Jaden, Rachel, Jessica and Tavi. Jeromy Waddell and wife Julie of Bayview and children Jordan, Johnna and Jayna. Zane Sather, Susan Sather, Hailey Sather and her daughter Susan in Mt. Vernon. Marshall Sutton and Jessica of Puyallup and daughter Hannah. Holly Sather of Sedro Woolley and her children Trey, Ashton and Lyric.

And by the Silverthorn family:
Jane Bridge of Anacortes; Kathryn Silverthorn of Edmonds; Maggie Thompson and husband, Tom, of Anacortes, Mary Kiser and husband Mark, and their children Katie, Whitney, and Jon all of Anacortes; Liz Silverthorn
of Torrance, CA; Patty Johnson and her husband Van and son Myles, of Anacortes; Christine Cote and husband Dave, and their children Aly & Mike of Selah, WA; Shaun Bridge and wife Tami, and their children Alex and Lilly of Sedro-Woolley; Leanna Rezvani and husband David; and their children Sofia and Alistair of Lexington, MA; Patrick Swapp and wife Kelsey, and their children Ty and Tatum of Anacortes; and Emilie McFarlane and husband Brett, and their son Charlie of Seattle.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Skagit Valley College Foundation/Joan Armstrong Tennis Courts/Athletics or University of Washington Foundation/Pre-Title IX Women Athletes Endowment

A vigil, and mass in Joan's name will be held on Friday, Aug. 8th at 9pm (vigil) and Saturday, Aug 9th (mass) at 10 a.m. Both ceremonies will take place at Sacred Heart Church in Bellingham.

You may share your thoughts and memories of Joan in the online memorial guest book at www.molesfuneral homes.com.

Moles-Greenacres Funeral Home, Memorial Park and On-site Crematory.