Born May 18, 1928, in Madison, Wisconsin, Joanne graduated from Hollywood High School in 1944. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1949 and married Roy W. Hendrick Jr. the same year. Joanne and Roy welcomed daughter Nancy Elizabeth Hendrick in 1951, followed by Roy Wesley Hendrick III in 1954, and by twins Joanne and Allison Ann Hendrick in 1956.
In 1958, the couple moved to Santa Barbara, California. Joanne served as the Director of the San Marcos Parent Child Workshop while completing her graduate studies. In 1969, Joanne became the first department chairperson of The Early Childhood Education (ECE) department at Santa Barbara City College. She oversaw the creation of The Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Children's Center in 1972. When space became too limited to serve the needs of the students and the college program, Joanne led the charge to acquire bond revenues, purchase a site, construct the new facility, and launch the improved center.
In 1973, Joanne received her doctorate from the University of California in Counseling and Early Childhood Education. She became Dr. Hendrick, a title she proudly carried through her life.
A fierce advocate for women, in 1989, Dr. Hendrick became the only woman in the University of Oklahoma College of Education to receive a tenured chair, when she became the Director of the Institute for Child Development and Associate Professor of Early Child Education. Dr. Hendrick was integral to the ICD becoming the groundbreaking facility that it remains today. After her official retirement from OU in 1993, she continued to work professionally until she was in her late eighties.
The author of numerous publications in the field of early childhood education, Dr. Hendrick was a popular speaker at professional and academic conferences. Her combination of research, humor, and a realistic approach to early childhood development made her beloved in her field. Dr. Hendrick’s books, including The Whole Child and many others, are still in print and used in classrooms worldwide.
Dr. Hendrick was active in many organizations, among them: the California Association for the Education of Young Children, where she served as president from 1979-1981; Garden Club of Norman Oklahoma; and the First Christian Church of Norman.
Dr. Hendrick cherished her cats, her family, traveling, meeting people, and experiencing history and art. She deeply appreciated different cultures—particularly enjoying Egypt, India, and China. She delighted in collecting animal-oriented art. During her lifetime, she set foot on every continent except Antarctica. She was, additionally, a knowledgeable and life-long gardening enthusiast. She obtained Master Gardener certification and brought joy to many with her deep love of ornamental gardening. Every year, even into her nineties, Dr. Hendrick planted thousands of tulip bulbs and welcomed the Garden Club into her home.
In July 2023, she moved from Oklahoma to Golden, Colorado, to be closer to her daughters in her twilight years.
Dr. Hendrick is predeceased by her parents and older sister, Barbara Berg Berton, as well as her former husband, Roy W. Hendrick, Jr.
She is survived by daughter Nancy Hendrick Miracle (Gary Miracle), son Roy Hendrick III (Pattie Hendrick), as well as daughters Joanne Hendrick Puckett (Frank Puckett) and Allison Hendrick Bristow. Her ten grandchildren include Elizabeth Miracle (Jordan Taylor), Robert Miracle, Melissa Hendrick Bates (Chad Bates), Judith Puckett Restrepo (Dan Restrepo), Kate Puckett Gowell (Conrad Gowell), Ray Puckett (Zahra Ghanbari), Talia Rose (Evey Rose), Gabriel Bristow (Holly Bristow), Izzy Bristow (Nick Wilshire), and Christopher Bristow. She also took immense joy in her four great-grandchildren: Daniel and Faith Bates, Riley Gowell and Theodora Miracle-Taylor.
Honoring her wishes, the family will host a private celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Hendrick requested donations to the Joanne Hendrick Early Childhood Endowed Scholarship: https://give.oufoundation.org/Hendrick.
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