Joan Todd was one of those very special people who belongs to that very special category that lies somewhere between friend and family. My Mom, Betty and her sisters Doris and Peggy Fauver were close high school friends with Joan back in the 1940’s. My father Frank Hulick, and Joan and Leonard worked together as artist illustrators for the Training Aids division at Fort Monmouth, N.J. back in the 1950’s and 1960’s and visited each other for meals and social gatherings on a relatively frequent basis. Since Michael Todd and I were about the same age, we made relatively good company together and had fun playing a variety of games, collecting stamps and baseball cards. I was occasionally invited on outings with the Todd’s at Takanassee Beach Club in the summer or the Trade Winds Pool in the winter, or to a Yankee Game. Our families traveled together to Freedomland USA in the Bronx (where I saw the Everly Brothers), New York City Stamp Shows at the Armory, and to Bear Mountain. The Todd’s came over to our house to shoot pool and play ping pong. Point is, we enjoyed each other’s company and were good friends. During my high school years, we saw each other less frequently, but still remained in touch, and mom and Joan spent a lot of time keeping up with each other over the phone. My association with Joan became a lot closer on a professional level during my college years, and I will be ever so grateful for the patience and invaluable assistance she gave me as I prepared for my Sophomore piano proficiency exam at Trenton State College towards my degree in music education. I’ll never forget that special evening when the Todd’s invited me to see the Buddy Rich Band play a one night stand at The Captain’s Garter in Neptune, N.J. What a night that was. We also attended a cool jazz concert at the Holiday Inn in West Long Branch, NJ, featuring trumpeter, Roy Eldridge and Tenor Sax player, Paul Gonsalves from Duke Ellington’s Band. On another occasion I was invited to join them at the Sheraton in Tinton Falls, NJ to see “The Happenings” of “See You In September” fame. Whenever I came home for a holiday vacation from TSC, I made a point to stop by to visit Joan and Leonard. Once I started teaching professionally, we had fun sharing lesson plans and materials with each other and shared our stories from the classroom. Joan and Leonard attended my wedding to Pat, and they attended the memorial service for my dad, Frank, when he passed back in 2008. Mom left Oceanport after Sandy flooded the house and my sister and I moved her up to New York State to be closer to family. I last saw Joan at her home about five or six years ago, when Mom was still half lucid and we had a lovely visit. Age can be wicked, but Joan’s brain was still sharp as a tack, as she shared the story of how she and Leonard met and of their engagement, and about the early days at Training Aids with my Dad and Leonard. Joan stopped calling once my Mom got Alzheimer’s disease and Mom had no idea who anyone was. Mom will celebrate her 95th birthday at the Memory Loss Floor at The Pines in Poughkeepsie, NY on December 17th. I only just learned of Joan’s passing while surfing the internet and was saddened at the news. I will always treasure her sense of humor, her kind generosity, and her company. My personal memories of Joan, Leonard and Michael Todd are an important piece of my life experience, and will always be treasured. My deepest sympathy reaches out to Michael, his wife, and their beautiful children. May Joan and Leonard Todd both Rest In Peace. Amen.

I have lost a cousin, a friend and a bright spot in my life. Joan was one of the few family I have left. We've shared family stories,our love of music and teaching and so many fun times shopping or at the beach. You are missed and loved now and forever.

Our favorite neighbors were Joan and Lenny. When we first met 25 years ago, it seemed like yesterday. My husband Doug, a builder, converted our home from "condemned" to a wonderful new corner lot with everything new. Lenny became the official "inspector", visiting the transformation every day, giving us information related to the town and previous owners. Joan was always close by, watching our house become respectable! As a pianist myself, we exchanged musical views which were endless. She loved her radio with the oldies, classical and swing, and it was always fun to be with her. There was so much to talk about ......musicians never run out of conversation. I cannot recall ever hearing the same story twice, for Joan had a whip of a memory and she never slipped up with her fabulous lifetime stories! What a mind, and what a lovely person she was. We'll miss her deeply. She's finally with her beloved Lenny who called her "Pie" ! We love you dear Joan!

We were officially cousins, but my siblings and I all called her "Aunt Joan" because she was more 'aunt-like' than 'cousin-like.' I don't know where I would be without Aunt Joan. She was my first piano teacher. She taught me to read music. I took that and ran with it. I in turn taught many other young kids while I was still in high school (and still taking piano lessons) and earned enough money to get me started in college. In college I didn't study music (though I probably should have); instead, I majored in Mathematics. I got a Masters degree in math before I realized that I would make a lousy mathematician, and that my interest, my passion, was music. Music has been the center of my life since then (I'm a recording engineer, and Teaching Professor in the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh). And I couldn't be happier. It all started with those piano lessons once a week, with Joan Todd. I used to babysit Michael, her son, and enjoy chats and laughs and listening to the best stereo system in the country with Joan's dearest love, her husband Leonard. A few years ago I recorded an audio 'interview' with Joan, asking about her years growing up, and about family members I knew very little about. Sharp as a whip! She remembered names and details (and the juiciest stories!) about our shared family history. She was so animated and so eloquent. Those years taking piano lessons were the best of times in my life growing up, and I get both sad and happy thinking about those times, and the time I spent with Joan and Leonard and Michael. They were all part of my life for so many years, and remain in my heart and in my thoughts. Now and forever. —Riccardo Schulz

Many great memories of art and music with Mrs Todd! Lots of Avon Grammar School alumni posting memories on the Avon Facebook page. She is being remembered fondly! ❤️

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.