Constance Joy Reist
Jan. 5, 1945-June 6, 2023
Palo Alto, California

Constance "Joy" Reist passed away peacefully in her Palo Alto home on June 6, 2023. Daughter of Kathleen Reist and William Reist, sister to Gary and Terry, beloved Aunt to her five nieces and nephews, and Great-Aunt to their children; Joy was a loving and supportive sister, a gracious neighbor and great friend to many.

Joy and her siblings grew up in Palos Verdes California where she was an avid horseback rider and lover of nature. Graduating from Palos Verdes High School Joy was accepted into the University of Oregon in Eugene. While attending "U of O" she would become a Pi Beta Phi, and go on to graduate with a BS degree in Physical Education. Following college, Joy moved to the Bay Area to begin her teaching career and make a home in (and of) Palo Alto, where for the next 32 years she taught P.E. and then Science at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School. She was beloved by her colleague through her always-positive-attitude, intelligence and wit. With her passion and creativity Joy inspired her students to love Science, ask questions and seek answers. Her classroom came to life with "cell" models made of jello and planets built out of clay.

Always a bit of the-bohemian in life, Joy loved being an active seeker: running, bike-riding, hiking adventures, world travel, nature exploring, beach-combing, ballroom dancing, English Riding and competing, finding and creating art, and raising her sweet-quirky golden retriever "Autumn". A strongly spiritual person, Joy's lifelong journey with Christ led her to New Beginnings Community Church in Redwood City where she both received and gave a love of faith. Joy sought for herself, and provided to others, a grounding and elevation in life. Her independence, inquisitiveness, strength of body and mind, and loving spirit carried her through life, drew people to her, and will be both deeply missed and carried forward in all of us that love her.

Tags: teacher/educator