Joan Bair Herman

 “…the tempo slowed, the brass and winds softened and died down, strings turned quiet and the tympani sounded their last as the curtains were drawn…” Thus, it is, following a long, slow decline that Joan passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011, at her home in Willow Valley Retirement Community, Lancaster County.

Born in Harrisburg, PA, on February 25, 1931, Joan Ruth was the daughter of the late Harvey Beshore Bair and Ruth Esther Lay Bair.  She later became the wife of Richard Miller Herman whom she married on April 17, 1954.

Joan graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1953 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.  Music had been her major interest and avocation with a concentration in stringed instruments, leading to performing as a violist with the Harrisburg Symphony while in high school and college and in later years with the Newark, Delaware, and Dover, Delaware, symphonies.  Professionally, she devoted much of her adult life to teaching in elementary school in Harrisburg and in New Castle County, Delaware, where she and her husband resided for over 30 years.      

Most of her professional interest and activity was in bringing very young students into the enjoyment and performance of music, with emphasis on such techniques as the ‘Suzuki Method’ for learning to play stringed instruments.  She engaged in much of this work in her later career in the Delaware schools.  Joan also enjoyed very much her playing with small groups and was a violist with several string quartets and ensembles in both Delaware and Lancaster.

Both Joan and her husband were dedicated fans of classical music in many forms and participated in church choirs and other choral groups throughout their married years.  Joan also has served as a volunteer in meeting with handicapped seniors and often reading to the sight-disadvantaged.

Joan and her husband belonged to the Presbyterian Church (USA) for many years starting with the First Church of Anniston, Alabama, in 1956, continuing with the Hanover and Red Clay Creek Churches of Wilmington, Delaware (1957-2003), and currently with Highland Presbyterian Church of Lancaster.

Joan is survived by her husband, Richard, their three children, Gregory Herman and his wife Trudy of Fort Collins, Colorado, Pamela Sue Sachs and her husband Jeffery of Foster City, California, and Kristen Jeanne Roland and her husband, Jonathan of Perry Hall, Maryland.  She has also enjoyed very much her nine grandchildren, Rebecca Herman, Kyle Herman, Jay Herman, Kathryn Sachs, Kelsey Sachs, Darlene Roland, and brothers Jonathan, David and Daniel Roland.  Joan also is survived by her twin sister, Jean Leathers of Findlay, Ohio, and a niece, Kathleen Leathers Rodabaugh also of Ohio.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 in the Thomas Auditorium of Willow Valley Lakes Manor, 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive in Willow Street, PA starting at 1:00 pm.  Friends may gather to pay respects to the family following the service. Interment will be private in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

The family wishes to express its appreciation to the many who have taken such very good care of Joan during her last illness – many doctors and members of the nursing staffs of hospitals and Willow Valley health care centers have often gone ‘the extra mile’ for Joan and have made her final months and days pleasant and comfortable.  Memorial contributions may be made in Joan’s memory to personal charitable causes or to the Capital Fund of Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 E. Roseville Road, Lancaster, PA, 17601. To send the family an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 717-872-5041