Joan Chessman Shipman, born April 11, 1938, died Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at her home in Shelburne, Vermont.
Born in Brockton, Mass., Joan was raised in Rocky River, Ohio, the daughter of Walter and Mildred Chessman. After attending Michigan State University, Joan moved to San Francisco where she met her to-be husband of 48 years, Peter Herbert Shipman, a former U.S. Marine. Peter died in 2009.
The couple, with their two infant children, moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1965 and, thereafter, never left the East Coast.
While in Rye, N.Y., Joan was twice elected president of the board of education, sang in the Presbyterian Church choir, and was a lover of the performing arts and jazz. Much to the dismay of her New York family, she was also a lifelong Red Sox fan.
Joan is survived by her loving family, including her brother, John Chessman of Escondido, Calif.; daughter, Julie Shipman of Buda, Texas; son, Jim Shipman of Boise, Idaho; son, Jerry of Shelburne; and niece and nephew, Alex Lobo and Thom Shephard, daughter and son of her sister, Margot Shephard, who died in 2018.
Additionally, Joan is survived by her six grandsons, Peter Shipman and Dr. Hank Shipman of Salt Lake City, Utah, Caleb Short of Manhattan, N.Y., Jack Shipman of Yonkers, N.Y., and Dylan Shipman and Jerry Shipman of Shelburne.
Why would you want to publicize the citizens who thought it would be amusing to enter silly names on their School Board ballots? The right to vote is not something to be taken lightly — even when there’s no competition in a given year.