Joanne Miller Pearson

Joanne Miller Pearson, 78, of Blacksburg, VA, passed away on May 15, 2020, at the Palliative Care Unit of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She was born on April 22, 1942, in Worcester, MA, to John C. Miller and Laola S. Miller, who preceded her in death. Surviving are her husband, Ronald E. Pearson; one daughter, Stacey Ismail and her husband, Mohammad, of Morrisville, NC; one son, Thomas Pearson, and his wife, Michele, of Gloucester, VA; two granddaughters, Nikkisue Pearson and Heather Pearson, of Gloucester, VA; one brother, John C. Miller Jr., of Stannard, VT; and one sister, Patricia Miller, of Blacksburg, VA. Joanne earned three degrees in Home Economics Education: a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1964); an M.S. from Iowa State University, Ames (1969); and a Ph.D. from Iowa State (1971). In 1985, she earned a second M.S., this one in Human Nutrition and Foods (Foods Option) from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. As a professor of Foods and Nutrition and Coordinator of the Dietetic Program in the Department of Health Sciences at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, from 1986-1998, she taught a number of courses, ranging from introductory foods to global nutrition, as well as practicums in clinical nutrition and foodservice management. Joanne was deeply committed to good food for the world. Besides her teaching responsibilities, she enacted this commitment in both professional and personal ways. Professionally, she held a number of offices in the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE), such as secretary to their Central and Eastern Europe Outreach Committee. She was also involved in IFHE-US (Region of Americas) and held several offices including Director of Professional Development and Programs. As Vice President of IFHE-US, she was on the Executive Committee of IFHE. These positions involved travel to Paris, Vienna, Bonn, Puerto Rico, Ghana, Helsinki, and Kyoto. In 2001, she was a Fulbright Scholar at the Technical University of Moldova, later serving as co-leader of an IFHE/NGO-Partinaires project funded by Monsanto to improve nutritional health with school gardens in Moldova. Joanne continued her international involvement in fostering health and nutrition through the International Home Economics Services (IHES) and their Disaster Assistance Partnership for home economics programs in developing countries. Joanne was a registered dietitian. She was a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (whose Leaders Award she received in 1999), the Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the American Dietetic Association, the Southwest Virginia Dietetic Association, and the Virginia Dietetic Association (now Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). The VDA recognized her with their Distinguished Dietitian Award in 1999. In addition to her many professional contributions, Joanne served personally in a number of ways. She was an active member of Northside Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir and served as both elder and deacon, with a particular focus on mission and outreach. She volunteered in the diabetes education program at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital, and she organized the Blacksburg collection point for the Montgomery County Christmas Store, among other services to that organization. Joanne was intelligent, caring, meticulous, and committed. She and Ron supported and complemented each other in inspiring ways. A memorial service will be held at Northside Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg, VA, at a later date. After that, a graveside memorial service will be held at West Ridge Cemetery, Charlton, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montgomery County Christmas Store (VA), or to the Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Joanne Miller Pearson

April 22, 1942 - May 15, 2020