MaryJo Whelan, avid reader, walker
MaryJo Whelan of Lewes passed away at her daughter’s home in Cleveland, Ohio, Monday, April 21, 2025. She was 79 and succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease.
Jo, as she preferred, was born in New York City March 21, 1946, to Patrick and Catherine Whelan. Jo’s father was from Ireland, and both of her parents instilled in her a respect for education. Jo attended Catholic grade school in the Bronx, graduated from St. Catherine’s Academy, also in the Bronx, and Hunter College, in NYC, in 1967, with a degree in mathematics. She joined the then-nascent IT field, among its first women. She worked with mainframes and PCs, and everything in between. Jo also earned a master’s degree in adult education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
In 1975, Jo married John Clark, and they moved to the Washington area, settling in Montgomery County. The marriage produced a daughter, Lauren. The marriage ended in divorce.
In 1984, Jo married Julian Karpoff and moved to Arlington, Va., where they lived until they retired and moved to Lewes in 2013. They had the same birthday. In retirement, Jo and Julian kept in close touch with daughter, Lauren, and Julian’s son, Tim, and kept an apartment in Washington. They traveled to the UK several times to visit Tim and his family, and visited Lauren when she was posted in Luxembourg. Jo traveled to Dubai to visit Lauren at another posting as well. Jo and Julian also spent Januarys in Florida. Jo was an avid reader and walker. Jo and Julian keenly followed the news together, as well as their favorite team, the Washington Nationals.
Unfortunately, Jo was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018. Julian cared for her at home until Lauren took over last October.
Survivors include Julian, of the home; daughter, Lauren; granddaughter, Noor (Nouli for short); stepson, Tim (Fiona), and their children; sisters, Ann and Patricia; brother, John; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held in Washington, with interment at the Whelan plot at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 1359 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, would be appreciated.
