by James Francis Gray
Joan Egeris lost everything in the Thomas Fire. She received a phone call from her handy man, the caretaker of her Ondulando neighborhood home while on vacation, informing her of the December 4th Ventura tragedy.
Joan left the Seychelles Indian Ocean island resort and headed back home to view the damage—a total loss. She, being an optimist, decided to move on and move she did—to a comfortable Ventura Townehouse Garden Villa apartment here in beautiful Ventura. It was no picnic dealing with insurance, the city permit process, the clearing and lot decontamination. She is enjoying her new home and intends to stay.
Joan’s motto: “We have only one body and mind—take care of them with love.”
The decision to sell the Ondulando lot and move from the home she lived in since 1965 came with much thought. It was a relief that she had her passport, driver’s license, luggage and her travel clothes. She had to replace the amities of life, a daunting task.
Joan hails from New England, born to Lithuanian parents in Nashua, New Hampshire, on January 7, 1936. The family lived in Hudson, New Hampshire, on a poultry farm. She was active in two 4H clubs and won a trip to the National 4H Club Congress representing her state in the gardening division.
Joan, a hardworking student, graduated from Nashua High School with salutation honors. Her next quest found her graduating from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts with a diploma in physical therapy. She continued her studies at Harvard Medical School for a career in physical therapy.
After college, Joan had a long and fruitful career, beginning with employment at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. After her move to Ventura, she worked as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Saint John’s Hospital in Oxnard. She was director for 25 years and during this time, she attended night school earning a master’s degree in Health Care Management from La Verne College.
Busy, busy, Joan went on to open a private practice in health care services providing in-home care for local residents and for The Ventura Townhouse residents as well.
Joan, a world traveler, (she has been to over 100 countries, going for 200). She enjoys many activities, walking, cooking, live theater and reading.
