Joanne
Swendsen Trimble
1939 - 2013
Joanne Swendsen Trimble, a
22-year resident of Austin died on June 30th at the age of
74 from pancreatic cancer at Christopher House of Hospice
Austin. Born Joanne Ruth Swendsen on March 12, 1939 in
Fond du Lac,Wisconsin to Robert Swendsen and Erna Hintz
Swendsen, she graduated in 1961 from Valparaiso University
with a major in mathematics, followed by a Masters in 1963
at Purdue University and a PhD in 1973 at the University
of Pennsylvania. Earlier she attended Pekin Community High
School in Illinois, graduating in 1961.
In 1965 the Trimbles moved to New York City and from 1965
to 66, Joanne taught at Hunter College, followed by Upsala
College from 1965-67. At this time the Trimbles
participated in The Linnaean Society of New York, during
what surely was its heyday. Christmas Bird Counts were
pursued with gusto, including the respected Montauk
Christmas Count. It was on this count that both Trimbles
stayed in the Manor House on Gardiner's Island, and
experienced the hospitality of Robert David Lion Gardiner
and the exciting count guest Roger Peterson (a bird guide
autograph bears the date of December 16, 1978). After the
University of Pennsylvania, Joanne taught at Glassboro
State College
(now Rowan University) from 1972 to 1984. It was during this time
that she participated along with her husband in the
establishment of a new Computer Science major.
In 1984, the Trimbles moved to Rhinebeck, New York where
Joanne joined the Math Department at Marist College in
Poughkeepsie. In 1992, she joined her husband in
Austin, Texas, where she accepted the pleasures of
retirement. Joanne delighted in each of two mini
dachshunds -- Hilbert, a red dapple, and Lindbergh, a
black-and tan retired champion.
She and her husband traveled widely, including many trips
in their Mooney Executive 21 aircraft, one of which led
them on an extended trip to Alaska (see web
site below). Other excursions included two trips
to Belize, six to the Bahamas, and one to Newfoundland
which included a landing in L'Anse aux Meadows (where the Vikings came ashore).
Austin led to new personal opportunities for Joanne to pursue her prowess in dealing with words and
their placement and arrangement, she began concentrating
on the most difficult crosswords she could find,
tackling every single Harper's Puzzle (found at the very
end of Harper's magazine). A winner is determined by
random choice from all the correct puzzle submissions.
After winning for the first time, there came win after
win, finally amounting to four wins and what surely is a
record of some sort. Harper's finally established a rule
that made a submitter ineligible for one year following
a win.
Perhaps her most enthusiastic activity was her beloved
water aerobics classes at the Austin 24-Hour Fitness
club. Joanne became a member of a tight-knit group of
like-minded water enthusiasts meeting three times a week
to be put through demanding sequences of aerobic
maneuvers. Friendships made here led to many social
activities which kept Joanne's calender really full all
year round. Many of the class visited repeatedly during
her final days.
On September 8, 2012, the Trimbles celebrated 50 years
of marriage at home with many close friends and family
in attendance. Pictures may be found below.
In May 2013, Joanne learned of her pancreatic
cancer diagnosis. She expended great energy and effort to
join for three weeks in a Trial of some new anti-Cancer
agents. Finally overwhelmed by the effects of her
condition, she withdrew to Hospice Austin where she died
on June 30, 2013.
Joanne is preceded in death by her parents and her brother
James and is survived by her husband of 50 years Benjamin
Andres Trimble, a sister-in-law Jessie Ozmelek (husband
Savas), a nephew Raif Ozmelek
(wife Kerry Ozmelek) and niece Aylin Lewallen (husband
Mike Lewallen).
A memorial get-together took place August
3rd, 2013 at 2:00PM CDT at the Trimble home -- 6300
Shadow Mountain Dr., Austin. In addition, an Internet
broadcast took place Aug. 3rd. The text and broadcast
video are both available below.
As a tribute, and in lieu of flowers and donations, your
participation is requested in the effort detailed below
called "Let's Talk".

Please sign Joanne's guestbook.
Don't worry about
mistakes. They will be edited away.
Locally published obituaries for Joanne, the texts of
which are entirely included above, are to be found in
the July 3rd print edition of the Austin American
Statesman, as well as the Statesman Internet version
(for one year) at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?n=joanne-swendsen-trimble&pid=165649876
Guestbook from the Statesman newspaper
Alaska Trip