Joanne A. Mitchell

PEAKS ISLAND - Joanne A Mitchell, 81, of Peaks Island, Maine, died peacefully, with her family at her side, October 5, 2011 at in Yarmouth after a short illness. She was born in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Annie-May and Fred C. Robinson. Joanne attended local elementary and secondary schools. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York. She later received a Master's degree in Elementary education from the Boston University School of Education and a PhD from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was a teaching fellow and member of the educational board of the Harvard Educational Review. Joanne was a Master Teacher at the Harvard-Newton Summer School. She was an assistant professor of education at New York State University at Potsdam, New York, and a consultant to the Right to Read Program of the Massachusetts Department of Education. Joanne was the senior author of Reading Perspectives a volume of elementary school textbooks. Joanne's work also included teaching assignments at the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, Leslie College in Cambridge, MA, the University of Southern Maine and Eastern Maine Technical College. Through the years, Joanne traveled and worked in a variety of places, but returned every summer to her home on Peaks Island.~ Her family and friends will always remember her generosity and the fine meals that she prepared for her visitors. Joanne was an intellectual that enjoyed debate and discourse and often provided a creative perspective on seemingly mundane topics. Although Joanne was a professional author, what may be considered her most valuable writing (in her family's eyes) was the Family Cookbook she wrote many years ago that preserved treasured recipes from her past. She was predeceased by her parents, Annie May and Fred C. Robinson, her sister Rita M. Robinson, her brothers John P. Robinson and Frederick C. Robinson and her niece Carol . She is survived by her son, Lawrence E. Mitchell of Natick, MA, her brother Robert C. Robinson and his wife Lucille A. of Cumberland Foreside, Maine. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Robert C. Robinson Jr., Maryann C. Robinson, Mark S. Robinson, Michael F. Robinson, Temple Ann Hansen, Janet R. Robinson and Christine V. Robinson. A10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, October 8, 2011 in the chapel at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Arrangements by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Online Condolences for Joanne Mitchell