Posted by Liz Matchett, a member of the Woodside School community, on Jan 12, 2010 at 11:49 am

I am so sorry to hear of Joan's passing. Two year's ago, in WCT's 2007 production of Music Man, I wore a costume that I know had been lovingly sewn by Joan for the Music Man cast back in the 1980s. I felt so happy to be wearing a garment that had been saved and passed on. I thought about the other productions I had participated in where Joan had done the costumes. She was a kind human being, and there is much to be said for that.

Posted by Barbara Wood, a resident of the Woodside: other neighborhood, on Jan 12, 2010 at 12:03 pm

I too will miss Joan a lot. I met her at the Almanac, but I really came to know her while talking my morning walks in Woodside. She was always out walking, too, and I ran into her and stopped to chat several times a week. She cared a lot about her neighbors and her community, and served as a role model for me about how to remain active well into retirement.

Posted by Merrill Newman, a resident of another community, on Jan 13, 2010 at 9:59 pm

I was a classmate of Joan's from Kindergarten through UC Berkeley. We shared the same birthday and, thus, were "twins". I was the other gaduation speaker/valedictorian and we have stayed in touch all these years, as I have lived in Palo Alto for over 50 years.

She was a lovely lady and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Posted by Lorraine Bailin, a member of the Woodside School community, on Jan 22, 2010 at 9:57 pm

I too, will miss Joan Sellman. She was truly a sweet lady. I would like to correct one date in your article. Mr. Sellman became a teacher at Woodside School for the 1957-58 school year as my eighth grade teacher and in my adulthood as my boss. He and Joan will be remembered always.