Josephine Lewis

Josephine Lewis, known to her friends as Jo, died on July 11, 2024 at the age of 93. Jo was born to Joseph and Genevieve (Brigham) Leach on April 18, 1931 in the small town of Berkshire, New York.

After a childhood spent variously in Berkshire, Baltimore, Maryland, and Zephyrhills, Florida, Jo went on to earn a BA at Skidmore College and a Masters in Education at Cornell University. She remained involved with both institutions throughout her life, spending several years on the board of Skidmore’s alumni association, and actively participating in recruitment, interviewing and promotion events for Cornell.

In 1964, Jo moved to San Francisco, where she discovered a passion for teaching English as a second language. She taught for many years at Alemany Adult school. In addition to being a stellar instructor, Jo organized student field trips, student performances and became a mentor and counselor for many international students. When Alemany became one of the satellite campuses for San Francisco City College in 1990, Jo served as Director of Courses, leading a faculty, many of whom were well known textbook authors, teacher-trainers and innovators in the ESL community.

Jo loved traveling, and she took many trips throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Equally, though, she enjoyed the little house she eventually moved to in San Rafael, California where she could overlook the ducks in the lagoon behind her small garden.

Predeceased by her youngest son, Mark Hileman, Jo is survived by her sister, Margaret (Peg) Leach; three of her children—Victoria Armour-Hileman, Eric Hileman, and Margaret (Mimi) Lewis; her grandchildren Daniel and Elise Hileman; and her great grandchildren, Heidi, Nick, and Bradley Hileman