Former YMCA teacher set to mark 79th birthday

Joan Noel, a popular YMCA preschool teacher, will celebrate her 79th birthday Thursday, April 25. Her husband, Jack, 80, plans to bake a cake for his wife and have friends stop by. He also hopes former students and community members will send cards to help Joan celebrate.

Joan overcame breast cancer 30 years ago, but for the last six years has suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. More recently, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She has been told she has three to six months to live. 

The couple, who are natives of York, Pa., moved to Delaware in 1991. Joan taught preschool at the Rehoboth Beach YMCA from 1991-94. Jack retired from General Telephone, now Verizon, and also worked at the YMCA as an aerobics and fitness instructor. He is also a magician. “I’ve been a magician since I was 16,” Jack said, “I really enjoy doing tricks with kids where they can participate. I used to do 130 shows per year.”

Recently, because of Joan’s health, the couple has not been able to leave the house often, but they still remember the days when they were more active. “We used to do anything you can imagine,” Jack said. “Horseback riding every Sunday, boating, kayaking.”

For her birthday, Jack plans to bake Joan a cake, but he said it’s not easy to meet Joan’s standards. Jack recalls when she would make baked goods, and people would be lined up outside ready to pay for them.

“She makes the best cheesecakes and chocolate chip cookies,” Jack said. “She also loves to knit and crochet, and got first place in a lot of fairs. Everything she does she gets first place.”

“She’s the strongest person I know,” Jack said. He said in 1972, when they were still living in Pennsylvania, their house was flooded during Hurricane Agnes. “She never cried,” he said.

“When the flooding went down, we cleaned everything up and moved on. That’s just how she is.”

These days, the couple, who celebrated their 59th anniversary in March, spend a lot of time at their home with their dog, Angel, and their rabbit, Trixie. “This one is Trixie number six,” Jack said. “Over the last 60 years we’ve had six rabbits, all named Trixie.”

Jack hopes community members will send best wishes and birthday cards to Joan for her birthday. “She’ll be so surprised,” Jack said, “I just know that she’ll be grateful.”

Cards may be sent to Joan Noel at her home address, 23302 Boat Dock Drive East, Lewes, DE 19958.