The community is mourning the passing of Joan Travan, a long-time South Shore Press columnist and driving force behind many projects in her beloved hometown of Medford. She touched many lives both as a civic leader and in her profession as a Community Service Aide.
Her weekly photojournalism column, “Joan’s View,” provided a unique perspective on local life, community, and politics. Her remarkable contributions were recognized in 2018 with the New York State Community Service award by The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Col. Josiah Smith Chapter as they declared June 9 as Joan Travan Day. Joan served as president of the Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association for nearly 20 years, where she proudly represented local interests before businesses, developers, and elected officials. Some of the best features of Medford are the result of her vision, tenacity, and hard work, according to her many admirers.
Joan saw to it that Medford Veterans Memorial Park was expanded with the closing of the old road that used to run behind it. She fought for better conditions on Peconic Avenue, and for traffic to stay off of Route 112. She had a dream for a community center in Medford and when the opportunity arose in 2008, she helped secure $2 million in funding from the developers of the Caithness Power Plant. Joan formed the Medford Hamlet Foundation with the goal of building something wonderful in Medford. Sixteen years later, and with the help of many people and various levels of government, her vision became a branch of the Medford Library, which will have its grand opening this summer.
“Sadly, Joan will only be at the ribbon cutting for the new library in spirit, but I know she will be on the minds of everyone there,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, who served with her in the leadership of the Suffolk Association of Municipal Workers when they worked for the county. “Though she will be sorely missed, her contributions to our community will live on.”
A mother of three, grandmother of seven, and a great-grandmother, Joan served as president of the Patchogue-Medford PTA Council. A lover of the arts and an artist herself, she started the Cultural Arts Dance, which supported art education in the school district for years. “She has been involved in so many organizations that I can’t even list them all right now,” said her daughter, Julie Travan Snyder. “Being involved in the community was her lifelong passion. All I can say is she left a legacy for her family to be proud of and that’s all that matters. Our lives will never be the same without her.”
Rosina Valvo, Joan’s niece, remembered: “She was a colorful character. I often stayed with her and my cousins when I was in my teens, and she would say, ‘Rosina, if I catch you smoking pot, I’m sending you back to your mother in a cardboard box.’ You can get into a political debate with her in about two seconds, but you better be well-informed because she knows her stuff. I always loved her stories about Eddie Money; she was really proud of the interview she did with him. She also told me once that she met Steven Tyler walking down the street in New York before he was really famous. She said, ‘I think he was high because he seemed really out of it.’ She just cracked me up!”
“My Grandma was the best Grandma and Great-Grandma,” her granddaughter, Brittany Snyder, wrote. “She was strong-willed, hard-working, loved helping the community, and would do anything for her family. As her only granddaughter and first grandchild, we spent so much time together. I’m going to miss our shopping trips, Starbucks dates, or just being able to call or text her every day. My Grandma didn’t take anything from anyone - if you know, you know! She was always by my side whenever I needed her and always had my back no matter the situation. I’m so lucky we have so many beautiful memories together, and I’m eternally grateful she was able to meet her great-grandson. She loved Angelo more than anything, and I will share stories so he doesn’t ever forget his amazing Great-Grandma. I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life. I love you, Grandma.”
Family and friends remembered her at a Funeral Mass at St. Sylvester’s Church in Medford on May 17. “We join together in honoring Joan Travan’s legacy and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said her union’s President Dan Levler. “Joan will truly be missed by her brothers and sisters in Suffolk AME and throughout the county.” The Calverton National Cemetery will be her final resting place.