Remembering JoAnn deArmas Wallace
JoAnn deArmas Wallace was a breath of life and exuded energy wherever she went. Plants, people, and programs blossomed through her efforts and influence.
JoAnn’s spirit was evident in everything she did, from making her husband, Ed, a native Texan, a wool sweater so warm he named it “Animal” and claimed it gave off its own body heat to threatening to wear white gloves—and only white gloves—in response to an invitation to one of her husband’s Air Force events requiring that “ladies must wear white gloves.” While she did not follow through on her threat, she did introduce herself as Martha Washington in the receiving line and claimed no one noticed.
While living in Yellow Springs, Ohio, JoAnn became active in the community’s performing arts scene and had a part in nearly every Gilbert and Sullivan musical, including Pirates of Penzance twice. She was also a frequent member of the backstage crew. It was at this time she also convinced her church that the choir should not be placed in the back of the sanctuary, as she led her fellow members in scoring the sermons with giant numbered signs.
JoAnn established study abroad programs at Antioch College, bringing many international students to her home. Her efforts resulted in international Thanksgiving, as she would invite international students to join the family and cook a dish from their home. When the couple moved to Huntingdon, where JoAnn became Dean of International Programs at Juniata, Ed would “carry her suitcase” as she traveled all over the world to Spain, Japan, China, England, Scotland, France, Italy, and beyond. She built Juniata’s program into a model of international study and was a leader in the Pennsylvania chapter of Partners in the Americas, a presenter at conferences in international education, and recognized as an expert in her field. Many of the international students still call JoAnn their American Mom. She made an impact on so many lives.
JoAnn deArmas Wallace, aged 79, died on January 31, 2022, in Elizabethtown, Pa.
Born in 1943 in Buffalo, N.Y., JoAnn was the daughter of Jose Ramon deArmas of Cuba and Ana Dolores Gonzalez of Spain. On June 5, 1965, she was united in marriage to Ed Wallace, whom she met at Syracuse University where she was studying International Relations and he was studying Russian for his service in the United States Air Force.
JoAnn is survived by her daughter, Kaye, and her son, Ramon.
The Wallaces lived in Rochester, N.Y., Ludlow, Mass., and Yellow Springs, Ohio, during Ed’s military service and while completing her master’s degree in counseling, JoAnn worked as a teaching assistant in statistics which required her to run punch cards through a room-sized computer. After receiving her degree, JoAnn worked within the international programs at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She later moved on to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she worked in admissions, then as the director of international study. Following Ed’s retirement, JoAnn became Dean of International Programs at Juniata College and the couple moved to Huntingdon.
Following her retirement from Juniata College, the couple moved to Hershey, Pa., to be near their daughter and her family.
JoAnn was a member of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
In Hershey, she was deeply involved in the arts, organizing and creating costumes for the Hershey Area Playhouse, volunteering at the Hershey Public Library, singing in the Hershey Community Chorus, and working with Indivisible, a grassroots organization that encourages civic involvement. With her husband, JoAnn frequently prepared and hosted international gourmet dinners to raise funds for Rotary International Youth Exchange.
JoAnn was an avid gardener and well known for her Zucchino Rampicante (Italian Climbing Zucchini), which she gifted to her neighbors and friends, along with her chocolate zucchini bread.