Joan H. Michael
October 19th, 1925 – July 8th, 2009 She did not hesitate to serve her country when it needed her most. When Joan H. Michael was a 16 year old girl she must have heard her country’s call as proclaimed by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt - "This is not a time when women should be patient. We are in a war and we need to fight it with all our ability and every weapon possible. Women pilots, in this particular case, are a weapon waiting to be used." Her desire to join the ranks of these adventurous brave women pushed against the limits of what women were allowed to do at that time. But for Joan gender barriers were a nuisance, not an obstacle. With passion and a strong will against her mother’s wishes she convinced her father to alter her Birth Certificate making her two years older. At her new age of 18 she could join the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots and answer the call to service that our country so desperately needed. This was no easy challenge. Being an airplane pilot had traditionally been a man’s job. Although women were not allowed to be fighter pilots, they flew every kind of plane the Airforce had, transporting new ones from factories and old ones to service centers or bone yards. They also flew test flights to see what needed to be fixed. It was a dangerous job. After the War the WASPs were disbanded and women were no longer wanted as airplane pilots. However, her Pilots License remained among her most treasured possessions, and telling of her experience flying solo, one of her favorite stories. Raised in Peoria, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio Joan found her home in San Francisco. Here she met Frances Davison, her devoted partner of nearly 50 years. They fit together like the music they made when they were young. Francie played the guitar. Joan played violin, ukulele, and clarinet. She always greeted the fog as a returning friend and earthquakes she spoke to like a misbehaving child, “That’s enough! You can calm down now.” Joan’s soft gentle side showed whenever she spoke of her children. They were the Special Education kids at Presidio Middle School who always won her love. After decades of devotion to these truly special children she retired from the San Francisco Unified School District. Never wanting to appear remarkable in her life she never set herself above anyone, never desiring the recognition that she certainly earned. On July 8th, 2009 Joan H. Michael left us with our memories of her. In these we have found an American story to be retold. She was indeed a most remarkable person whose quiet life gave more to this world than we ever knew.
Honored by Timothy J. Bohan |
