Joan McGee A'Hearn

Joan McGee A'Hearn died in a hail of gunfire during a predawn escape from the Wesley Nursing facility...

No.  That's not true. She would have appreciated the joke, though.

Joan McGee A'Hearn passed away in her sleep on July 8th, 2025.  She was 87 years old.

She was born October 10th, 1937 in Queens, NY to John and Kathleen McGee.  She is predeceased by her brothers John and Joseph.  She is survived by 3 children, Siobhan (Jack Celeste), Sheila and Jason; 6 grand children, Stephanie, Steven, Max, Maeve, Fiona and Oliver; and 2 great grand children, Abigale and Luna.

Her father John was a traveling jockey and trainer who settled the family in Saratoga Springs so Joan and her brothers could attend school.  She graduated from St. Clements and moved to New York City where she became a secretary at a large advertising agency.  Like a plot taken from of Mad Men, she became a copywriter and worked her way up to become one of the first female copywriters in early advertising. She rose up the ranks at various ad agencies and ended up being the head speech writer at General Electric.

While living in New York, she used to go to Greenwich Village to see Woody Allen do stand up.  She would sneak into Broadway shows to see Elaine Stritch and Gwen Verdon. She ate at restaurants after recent mob slayings, because she knew the Italian food had to be good. 

Before her eyesight failed, she was a voracious reader, loved movies and the theater.  She was in a small group of friends who would compete on who could finish the Sunday New York Times Crossword the fastest.  She always won.

Before her memory went, she had an encyclopedic knowledge of horse racing.  She could tell you what horse won every leg of the triple crown for the last 30 years including who the sire and dam were.  She was never shy to have a wager.

Before her body failed, she was an avid golfer who played several times a week. She played some of the most prestigious courses around the world and was one of the things she missed the most.  Any putt inside 3 feet was a gimme.

Before time and cancer had their way with her, Joan McGee A'Hearn was a woman of staggering intellect, unbridled wit and - very often - unwanted sarcasm.

She was loved.  She was funny. She will be greatly missed.

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