Obituary of Joan Polcari

In Memoriam

Joan M. Polcari

November 28, 1950 – November 20, 2022

Having taught us all how to face life’s challenges with courage, patience, and love, Joan passed away on Sunday, November 20th in Manhasset, NY with her husband, John, at her side. During the past decade, Joan endured many health issues resulting from a particularly advanced case of Sjogren's syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease, that in her case necessitated a lung transplant in 2017.

Anyone who knew Joan will remember her smile, enthusiasm, and fun-loving personality. It embraced your soul with warmth, compassion, and an understanding that here was a person who would always be there for you.

Joan and John met at Chase Manhattan Bank, married in 1989, and lived in Manhattan. In 1992, they moved to Manhasset, NY where Joan was active in the Norgate Civic Association. The couple enjoyed traveling and experiencing new cultures—both near and far. In her younger days, Joan toured art galleries and museums with her sister, Barbara, and niece, Laura, and that interest in the art world continued throughout her life. Over the years, she and John have supported several philanthropic and medical organizations such as the Manhattan Theater Club, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Sjogren's Foundation. Joan treasured family and one of her favorite pastimes was researching family genealogy, discovering ancestors and distant relatives, and documenting oral histories.

Joan had a successful career in bank marketing at Chase Manhattan and later, as Vice President at The Bank of New York. In 1998, she became an entrepreneur by establishing her own innovative marketing consulting firm. An outgoing personality and wonderful sense of humor, along with attention to detail, in-depth planning and flawless execution made marketing a great fit for Joan’s many talents.

Having grown up in Massapequa Park, Long Island, Joan graduated from Alfred G. Berner High School and received a BS in Education from St. John's University in Queens in 1972. She was an active member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. Throughout high school and college, Joan belonged to the glee clubs where she was blessed with close friends, many of whom continued to stay in touch decades later with a phone call, particularly on her birthday.

Joan is survived by her husband of 33 years, John, her sister, Barbara O'Dea (husband Michael), John’s siblings Jim, Frank and Kate (spouses Marijayne, Ruth and Al) and 11 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Sjogren's Foundation at https://www.sjogrens.org/