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
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
Fiftieth
Anniversary Party
Joanne's Family
Memorial Get-together Broadcast
Memorial Get-together Essay Text
Bach Bradenburg Concerto #6 (Karl Richter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joanne's Family
Memorial Get-together Broadcast
Memorial Get-together Essay Text
Bach Bradenburg Concerto #6 (Karl Richter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------