tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post4985598658521590273..comments2011-04-22T21:41:36.468-04:00Comments on Tribute to Joy Sparks: ObituaryJerry Hendrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13478998651439308492noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-77809530200644555112009-02-26T10:51:00.000-05:002009-02-26T10:51:00.000-05:00Dearest Friend and Colleague Don: Rosella, Giorgio...Dearest Friend and Colleague Don:<BR/> <BR/>Rosella, Giorgio and I are deeply impressed and extremely sad for the premature loss of the lovely JOY.<BR/> <BR/>We, as all friends around the world, will always remember Joy for Her contagious smile, Her great motivation, enthusiasm and true passion in doing things, Her strong personality, Her elegance, grace and style, and Her optimism, among the several beautiful qualities and attitudes She had.<BR/> <BR/>Please, feel us as strongly and heartly supporting you in these extremely sad and difficult times that, we are sure, you will have the strength to overcome.<BR/> <BR/>Truly Yours.<BR/>Nicola, Rosella and GiorgioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-70801692876766916792009-02-23T14:14:00.000-05:002009-02-23T14:14:00.000-05:00Dearest Don: I have loved reading and hearing all...Dearest Don: I have loved reading and hearing all the letters on this site about Joy's professionalism in 4-H and her accomplishments in the academic world but, not knowing her in this light, my fond memories of Joy are of her laughter. Sharing a brother-in-law with you allowed me to be a part of this unusual and fun-loving family. Some of my fondest memories are of trips to your home in Delaware with Betty and Carolyn. We talk, in my family, about and laugh about my trips to your home in past years and Joy was instrumental in arranging side trips (our trip to Philadelphia to the farmers market and trying to find Three Street, our trip to Washington and your hilarious tribute to Jackie O., our trip to the beach and us trying to cover up the variclose veins, and our many trips to Vanity Fair on shopping trips). All these events were accompanied with gales of laughter and still evoke these fits with the retelling of these stories. <BR/><BR/>Joy was a "joy" to be with, always a joyful hostess and such a helpmate to you. She will be missed. Thank you for sharing her with me.<BR/><BR/>Mary Steele<BR/>Winchester, KYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-49271494508787411692009-02-23T09:57:00.000-05:002009-02-23T09:57:00.000-05:00Dear Don,It is with great sorrow and grief to know...Dear Don,<BR/>It is with great sorrow and grief to know that the inevitable has at last happened and most lovable Joy has left for ever. We are extremely saddened. We were expecting that a miracle will happen and Joy would be saved but not. We all pray that the departed soul lives in peace. I never knew that our meeting with Joy in Philadelphia would be the last meeting. Don, it is a great personal loss to you, but you have to bear it. Her constant support and encouragement to you is apparent from the number widely-read quality books that you could write. <BR/> <BR/>Amrit and my sons join me in conveying our heart-felt condolence on this occasion of sorrow.<BR/> <BR/>Nanak PasrichaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-55238142232283864922009-02-19T17:24:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:24:00.000-05:00Dear Dr. Sparks, We are deeply saddened that Joy h...Dear Dr. Sparks,<BR/> <BR/>We are deeply saddened that Joy has left us. Despite your note earlier this month, Joy’s passing still came to us as too sudden and too early. Both my wife and I feel that we are fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know Joy during the years that I worked with you in Delaware. Dr. Sparks, please accept our sincere expression of sympathy and condolences on Joy’s leaving. It is a great loss to you as well as to all of us.<BR/> <BR/>Sincerely,<BR/> <BR/>Z. Z.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-66780345537071705402009-02-19T11:26:00.000-05:002009-02-19T11:26:00.000-05:00Tribute to Joy SparksI am deeply saddened by the n...Tribute to Joy Sparks<BR/>I am deeply saddened by the news of Joy's death. Just to utter the word leaves a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know how passionate Joy was about life in general and specifically about 4-H and her familiy. She was a joy to be around because she cared so much about what she did and the people who were engaged in the same work.<BR/>To her family I would offer prayers that the memories of Joy and the way she lived her life will sustain you until such time as you can heal and go forward in your lives without her. To her colleagues and friends I can offer that I also grieve with you as well. The world is surely a poorer place today because of Joy's passing, but in the end it is a richer place because she lived and she lived so passionately and so sincerely in the interest of doing work that had true value to society.<BR/>Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you in this time and that I will always hold a special place in my heart and memory for all that Joy was and is.<BR/>A friend of Joy's for more than 25 years, a state 4-H program leader colleague and foundation executive colleague, and a recent semi-retired 4-H lifer! Jim RutledgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-30632097445003066312009-02-19T11:24:00.000-05:002009-02-19T11:24:00.000-05:00A very commited professional colleagueWhen I think...A very commited professional colleague<BR/>When I think of Joy Sparks, I recall the many State 4-H Leader meetings that we attended together. Joy was a positive thinker, problem solver, realist, and team player. She served on numerous committees and was always commited to quality and accessible 4-H programs for all youth. Joy was a welcoming friend. I extend my sincere support and love to Joy's family. Joy wias highly respected and will be missed by many! Sue Fisher, retired Florida State 4-H LeaderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-70841064461454034262009-02-19T09:05:00.000-05:002009-02-19T09:05:00.000-05:00Dear Don,Rachel and I are very sad to learn that J...Dear Don,<BR/>Rachel and I are very sad to learn that Joy has died. Our thoughts are with you and your family.<BR/>We shall always remember your hospitality and are grateful that we had the opportunity to know you both.<BR/>Please accept our condolences. <BR/>Rachel & Yigal SalingarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324893192915052502.post-48759295691874814522009-02-19T09:04:00.000-05:002009-02-19T09:04:00.000-05:00Dear Don,We are very sorry to get the bad news abo...Dear Don,<BR/><BR/>We are very sorry to get the bad news about Joy. We would like to express our sympathy with you. We are very sorry that we will not be able to take part in the memorial service to pay respect to Joy and support to you.<BR/><BR/>We will always remember her kind hospitality to us during my postdoc days in your lab as a young couple with two toddlers until our last meetings in the World Congress of Soil Science and in our visit in Delaware after the conference.<BR/><BR/>Since my postdoc period we have witnessed the deep involvement of Joy in your career and professional relationships. We had the opportunity to know you and Joy and to see her admiration to you and her dedication to your success. Her ability to develop simultaneously her own career is admirable. In our meetings with you and Joy we felt the warm and deep connection between you. Joy and you were a model of a perfect loving couple that supported each other. It is hard to think of you without Joy.<BR/><BR/>We hope that your memories of Joy's love to you and the enjoying and interesting life you experienced together will comfort you and will enable you to keep on your work in research, writing, editing, teaching and serving a leader of scientific projects and research groups.<BR/><BR/>Our deepest regards<BR/><BR/>Asher and Smadar Bar-TalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com