JOAN LICHTERMAN 10.19.42 - 7.28.20

My very dear friend Joan Lichterman departed the planet during the early morning hours of July 26th. She had lung cancer. The universe is a little bit dimmer today.

Joan was an ardent Activist for all sorts of causes, Disability Rights, Saving Elephants, her Union responsibilities for Worker Safety and others too numerous to mention.

I met Joan in Oakland, California at an RSI Support group which Joan was leading. (RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury) I was injured at my job, working on the computer all day. Joan guided me through the labyrinth of Workers Compensation, attorneys, doctors and Myofacial Trigger Point massage therapy. I wouldn't have made it through without help from Joan. 50 or 60 people attended those once a month meetings where Joan had an enormous display of handouts regarding everything one needs to navigate the 'system', workers comp., social security disability, finding a doctor, finding an attorney and finding good treatment providers.

Some friends left comments on the lotsahelpinghands website. I did not know how involved she was with Saving the Elephants. She made Facebook friends with people in Kenya and Uganda who are now creating a memorial for her. She provided resources for a friend to finish nursing school. Kind hearted and generous do not begin to cover it. Everywhere I look in my apartment, I see gifts from Joan; she mailed me a blender. I make smoothies every morning. She gave me a portable dish drain. She sent me a beautiful book on the "BARCELONA HAGGADOT: The Jewish Splendour of Catalan Gothic."

Her religion was Activism. Her last Facebook post was June 26th regarding Black Lives Matter. One of many posts on that topic even while she was ill.

Her friends in Oakland who took care of her said before she 'transitioned' she was very hopeful upon seeing thousands of people in the street protesting. In solidarity.

I put some Comments from lotsahelpinghands on this blog. Their words do justice to her and they were working with her on her latest Activist activities. She told me she was involved with Saving Elephants. I did not realize the extent of her contacts in Africa and her involvement with people for the cause.

PARK ST. T STOP, 2013

She did stay with me in 2013 for a couple of weeks when she attended a conference at MIT and visited some relatives. I am sad to report we had an argument about watching the Red Sox but we got over it and moved on, I am happy to say.

See Comments from friends in Africa below:

August 15, 2020

There’s been no activity for so long that I don’t think anyone is using the site. I did realize I could invite another person myself, so the first of my requests can be forgotten. Meanwhile, if anyone happens by, the community in Rugando, Uganda, has made progress on their memorial to beloved Joan. Here is the completed carving to be mounted in a statue next to one of the trees she planted to replenish their forests. 

Aug 10, 2020 at 10:21 am

https://www.facebook.com/100005757004731/posts/1475988739269679/?d=n The community in Uganda so dear to Joan has set up a memorial to her generous spirit. They chose her tree, one she purchased for a reforestation project, as center, and built a bench for contemplation around it. A regional sculptor is making an elephant statue they’ll install within the circle. It’s not a common practice to do this, but Joan is loved as an irreplaceable supporter. I thought you’d like to see how she’s being honored. 

August 1, 2020

Love to all who love Joan. Her absence leaves an odd and constant ache, and several shared friends in Kenya and Uganda are suffering her loss. I’d like to forward their requests and hope for swift response to the first two. It is important for her beloved friend, Orishaba Gracious, to know if there will be a burial, an essential ritual of closure in Uganda. Likely not, but I’d like to confirm and share with her any memorial or ceremony she might join from afar. Can she be added to this page? Joan has been in constant touch with her for the six years I’ve known them, and left resources for Grace to complete her higher degree in nursing. The community Joan has so passionately supported in Uganda (see Andrea’s beautiful tribute on this page) is setting up a tribute site in the village to honor Joan. They are setting aside a tree she planted several years ago and would like to put up a sign honoring her work there, including her dates of birth and death. Can anyone provide both? And last, Jamey Ponte, a Kenyan man (actually a partial ex-pat from Ohio) and Joan tried hard to her to Kenya over the last few years. As her health made her increasingly frail, he offered to accompany her on the plane, pay for her flight, and host her entire visit. She wanted so badly to see Kenya before she died, but finally was unable. She helped several people there in the communities Jamey lives and works in. Many people there would be glad to honor her generosity, and Jamey would like to honor her with a small memorial site. He’d like to include some treasured thing of Joan’s, or ashes if there’ll be any, to take to the beautiful Masaai Mara, where she dreamed of joining him for a wildlife safari. He lives in Ohio during the pandemic and would cover any costs getting things to him. When travel fully opens and he can return, he would take it on his flight home. Can anyone help me facilitate that? I can put you in direct touch with him.

AG

Andrea Glass

Jul 29, 2020 at 7:11 pm

My heart cracks open for the loss of my "Global March For Elephants and Rhinos" buddy who was a co-rganizer of the March in SF for 4 years. I appreciated her passion for "all things elephant" and for being such a powerful animal rights as well as human rights advocate! In the honor of Joan's unfolding memory as it continues to impact us, I am suggesting that people, if they so choose, make a donation to Joan's strongest elephant grassroots charity, "Nr Conservation and Development in Uganda started by an inspirational man, Arinetwe Moses, who does nature and wildlife conservation projects plus humanitarian work in communities next to wildlife areas. Moses told me on Messenger yesterday that Joan has been like a family member and looked upon as one of the villagers even though she didn't actually get to visit there--it was her dream! Joan was one of the founders of Nr Conservation and Development and was pivotal in helping Moses to get the requisite funding to get registered with the government in Uganda. The community organization has gotten elephant poachers to reform and to start alternative projects such as beehive fences to deter elephants from crop raiding and to harvest and sell the honey, created fish ponds for another food source, vegetable gardens to feed the community, weaving basket projects by the women to sell all over the world! Much of the money raised is for school tuition for the local children including Moses'. Also, Moses started a Pangolin Rescue Program and the community has saved over 40 Pangolins to date from traffickers! Moses told me that all this was done under the GUIDANCE and TUTELAGE of Joan and that "a pillar has been lost to his family, his village, and the whole region" from Joan's passing. If you feel so inspired as I continue to do, you can send any amount via PayPal to Katherine Denison at: kdcreate@bearmeadow.com

I WILL MISS YOU Joan and your immensity of HEART!