Joan Liddy Jack
Feb. 7, 1934-Dec. 28, 2025
Palo Alto, California
Joan Liddy Jack, age 91, died at Stanford Hospital surrounded by her family on December 28th, 2025.
Joan was born on February 7, 1934 in Utica, New York to Earl Atwell Wheaton and Gertrude (Liddy) Wheaton and was the youngest of three children. She grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey and graduated from Ridgewood High School where her senior quote in the yearbook was “the time to be happy is now.”
After high school she was part of the Class of 1954 at Green Mountain Junior College where she was President of the Student Council and a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She then followed her brother Earl to New York City where she received her nursing degree from Columbia University.
After nursing school, Joan moved to San Francisco and soon met Robert Jack, who was part of an energetic group of Stanford Graduate School of Business students living in a “mansion” in Los Altos. They were married in October of 1960 and had three children: Lisa, Sheila, and Gordon. Once the kids were older, Joan returned to school to get her Masters in Nursing and then led the Health Education Department at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for many years, followed by working with a pulmonologist to help people stop smoking.
True to her senior quote, Joan spread happiness to others through humor, kindness, and generosity. She was not shy about making jokes about an occasional gaffe (like when she told the philosophy professor that she too loved Play-dough) or telling stories about funny situations from her childhood. She was also not afraid to try new things, such as modeling for a book about color, sewing all kinds of things (including down jackets and a tent), leading a Girl Scout troop, and painting the second story windows of their house at the top of a large extension ladder. Joan was the perfect mom for her children who to this day are so appreciative of her support, warmth, and sense of fun. It is a testimony to Joan’s parenting that all three children ended up living very close by, which allowed Joan to forge close relationships with all seven of her grandchildren.
With Bob, Joan created a life full of friendships and community. Through the kids’ schools (Addison Elementary, Jordan Middle School, and Paly High) and sports teams (softball, soccer, swimming, etc.), volunteerism (President of the Garden Club, docent at the Gamble Gardens and leading Professorville tours), competition (she was an avid tennis player, loved board games, and spent many Saturdays supporting the Stanford football team), and fellowship in church communities, she forged lasting friendships that sustained her throughout her life and brought her joy. Up until the end of her life, her calendar was filled with dates for bridge, bible study, choir practice, dinners, and family gatherings.
Joan loved to explore the world beyond Palo Alto too. As a young mother, she and Bob loaded the children into the VW van and traveled across the country, visiting national parks as they went. When her children got older, she often used them as excuses to see other countries, traveling to the USSR with Sheila for a soccer tournament and to Spain and Chile to visit Gordy while he was working overseas. She and Bob continued their adventures until he got sick and passed in April of 2020.
After Bob died, Joan led a more stationary life, focused on family and friends in Palo Alto. She greatly enjoyed the friends and activities she had at Channing House, and the many family gatherings for holidays and birthdays. As a very spiritual person, she also highly valued her time with her bible study group and attending church services remotely.
Joan is survived by her children Lisa Jack, Sheila Grau, and Gordon Jack, and grandchildren Charles Smith, Cooper Smith, Rachel Grau, Rickey Grau, Alex Grau, Daniel Grau, and Henry Jack. We did not want to give her up but we feel blessed to have had her for as long as we did.
Tags: teacher/educator
