Obituary of Joanne L. Conrad

Joanne B. Conrad, 76, of Center St. in Geneseo, died Saturday, January 26, 2013 at the Teresa House in Geneseo, NY. She is survived by her husband Lowell G. Conrad, daughters, Diana Cottom of Phoenix, AZ, Michelle Burger of Phoenix, AZ, Elizabeth (Scott Johnson) Conrad of Albany, NY, step daughter, Virginia Conrad of Shrub Oak, NY, granddaughter, Alysia Cottom, step granddaughter, Katherine Balen, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Joanne was predeceased by her brother, James Burdett II. She was born January 30, 1936 in Binghamton, NY the daughter of James and Dorothy Beecher Burdett. Joanne graduated from York Central School in 1953 then earned her bachelor of science in English from SUNY Geneseo in 1966. She began her career teaching high school English at Wayland Central Schools in 1967, where she taught for six years until her third daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1974. In 1980, she joined the National Federation of Independent Business, a small business lobbying organization, as a District Representative and Territory Manager. In 1995, she was appointed by Governor George E. Pataki to serve as District Administrator for the New York State Workers' Compensation Board in Rochester, NY. In 2005, she was promoted to Director of the Board's Contact Relationship Office. A dedicated Republican, Joanne served the party in various capacities including as President of the Livingston County Women's Republican Club and several officer positions, currently the Recording Secretary, with the New York State Federation of Women's Republican Clubs, Inc. She also served as publicist for various Republican candidates in local and statewide elections and a member of the New York Republican State Committee, representing Livingston County. Joanne also served her community in various capacities. From 1985-1992 she served as Chairman of the Town of Geneseo Planning Board where she presided over all zoning and development applications and conducted the town's first state environmental quality review for a multimillion dollar project. At the same time, from 1990-1994, she served as President of the Board of Directors for Chances & Changes, Inc., a local domestic violence shelter for which Joanne created annual fundraising drives, compiled annual fiscal reports, and financially re-organized and managed a $180,000 budget. In addition, she joined the American Legion Auxiliary and served as Publicity Chair for the Harrison-Lee unit as well as for Livingston County. She also served as Auxiliary Girls State Chairman for the last few years. After her retirement from the Workers' Compensation Board in 2007, she continued her involvement in the community as a tutor for the Literacy Volunteers of Livingston County, a computer skills tutor for the Wadsworth Library in Geneseo, and a freelance writer of book reviews and her own blog. Visitation will be held at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home, 111 Main St. in Geneseo on Monday, January 28, 2013 from 4-8 PM. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 11 AM at the Central Presbyterian Church, 31 Center St. in Geneseo with Pastor Nancy Lowmaster officiating. Burial will be in Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Teresa House, 21 Highland Rd., Geneseo, NY, 14454.