Joan M. Mondschein's Obituary
Joan Mondschein daughter of Dr. Ruth and Murray Mondschein and her sister Paula, has passed on to another journey August, 1, 2014 at 2:30 a.m. Joan graduated from American University in Washington D.C. with her Bachelors and Masters of Arts in International Relations and lived a good part of life overseas. Joan traveled throughout the world in Europe, Latin American, and the Middle East organizing and directing special projects for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Very Special Arts International and the President’s Committee on Employment of the Disabled. In Israel she served with the Foreign Ministry escorting and arranging special events for major dignitaries from the U.S. government and artists like Burl Ives, Danny Kaye, and Frank Sinatra. Joan also served in Nachal, a branch of the Israeli Army that not only assisted new immigrants to settle in Israel, but she was assigned special military duties in the Sinai, the Golan Heights and Jericho.
Joan was the key person to arrange all the logistics in the Symposiums for the disabled in Central America and in the Caribbean which included establishing press relations, choice of hotels, workshop facilities, guests artists, special events, travel, all the details necessary for a successful symposium. In addition to all these major responsibilities for the symposium, Joan maintained a personal relationship with the First Lady of Salvador and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word to help save many children from hunger and war. In Guatemala she developed an extraordinary relationship with the Minister of Economic Affairs and created a new initiative of training and hiring disabled youth. It is said “the gift without the giver is bare” and Joan lived in Guatemala and El Salvador with the Sister of the Incarnate Word for many months to ensure the completion and success of these projects.
When Joan returned to America she was recognized for “distinguished service” on behalf of the U.S. government and President Clinton gave her the unique opportunity to be his “Special Assistant for Special Projects.” Joan worked for President Clinton for 10 years, before, during and after his presidency. Her vast experience abroad, her talent and expertise in creative planning and administration, served President Clinton in many areas and the president recognized Joan for her excellence in creativity, competence, and devotion to her work for the U.S. Government.
Joan came to Arizona for a kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic and was recognized by the medical community for her significant contribution of creating a new law that requires all dialysis workers to have technical training and a license to work. Joan’s persistence and persuasive skills allowed her to accomplish what had never been a law in Arizona. This new law made a tremendous difference in the lives of many kidney patients on dialysis. Joan also became President of the Board of Directors of her Condominium and was recognized for her management skills in financial, political and social affairs of the community. Joan was truly a “one of a kind” woman who will always be remembered for her compassion, integrity, sense of fairness and for her commitment to the health and safety of the children of the world. Joan was admired for her intelligence, her courage, her sensitivity to people’s problems, needs, and solutions, but above all Joan was loved for her sense of humor, her values and the beauty and goodness of her soul. She will be greatly missed.
Graveside services Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the Temple Emanu-El Section of EVERGREEN CEMETERY, N. Oracle Rd. & W. Miracle Mile.
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