Joan F. Wessman

Joan Feeney Wessman passed away peacefully on December 17, 2021 after an intense battle with Covid-19 resulting from a breakthrough infection. She was 71. Joan was born on March 28, 1950 in Philadelphia to Walter and Elizabeth Bennis.

The oldest of 8 children, Joan developed her management skills at an early age. She honed those skills in her professional life as a nurse, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Akron General Health System in Akron, Ohio, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, North Carolina and Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at University Healthcare System in Augusta, Georgia. Following Joan’s service in hospital management she held roles in consulting as a Director with Navigant Consulting, a Vice President for Assay Healthcare Solutions and as an independent healthcare consultant.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Science, Nursing Administration from The Ohio State University. Joan is a graduate of the Johnson and Johnson Wharton Fellows program and the University of Michigan School of Business Global Leadership in Healthcare program. She received numerous professional awards including the American Organization of Nurse Executives annual Mentor Award, the Nursing Management Visionary Leadership Award and The Ohio State University College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award. She was a recipient of The Business Journal Women in Business Award in 2008 and a recipient of Ohio Nurses Association Excellence in Nursing Service Administration Award in 1997. Joan received the Ohio Hospital Association Organization of Nurse Executives Nurse Executive of the Year Award in 1993 and The Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award from Delta Omega Chapter Sigma Theta Tau in 1990.

She has published and presented on a variety of nursing leadership topics. Joan helped support education as an Adjunct Faculty Member at both Kent State University and the University of Akron. Joan served in multiple community organizations including Leadership Akron, as past Chair of the Akron Private Industry Council, as past President of Athena Akron and as past President of the Ohio Organization of Nurse Executives. She was a Board Member for MedFlight of Ohio, The Mental Health Association of Summit County, Mobile Meals Foundation, The Women’s Endowment Development Committee of the Akron Community Foundation and The Workforce Investment Board of Summit County.

The nurses and staff under her direction described her as a tough but kind leader—and stressed that she tirelessly worked to improve care for patients. She was demanding, to be sure, but she was proud of it. And she excelled in all aspects of her career. She was simply an unforgettable presence in each hospital that she worked.

While still an only child, Joan moved with her family to France while her father was in the Navy.  Joan loved to tell people that she “went topless on the Riviera” without mentioning that she was only a toddler at the time.

Joan met Bob, the love of her life, while both were working at Akron General Medical Center. They married in 1993 and have since been inseparable. Bob and Joan golfed and traveled frequently. They share six children and 9 grandchildren. They had a beautiful marriage and life together. When Joan suffered health issues in her last few years, Bob never left her side and cared for her with unconditional love.

Always the biggest personality in the room, Joan encouraged everyone in both her personal and professional life to do their best and to do it with grace, humility, and most importantly, joy. Joan dearly loved her family, her church and her beloved Ohio State Buckeye’s football. Joan was a voracious reader of three daily newspapers. She loved hardcover books and additionally filled her time with book club and mah-jongg.

Her death is an indescribable loss to those who loved her. Joan is survived by her father Walter Bennis and by her loving husband, Robert, and her children Megan (Jeremy) Levenson, Kate (Aaron) Bradley, Matthew Feeney, Sara (Mike) Mueller, the Reverend Aaron Wessman and Tyler (Maria) Wessman-Conroy; and her sister Nancy Hupp, brothers James Bennis, Robert Bennis, Jeffrey Bennis, David Bennis, Steven Bennis and Matthew Bennis; and her grandchildren Ian Feeney, Sean Feeney, Colin Feeney, Samuel Bradley, Anna Bradley, Maverick Mueller, Kyen Mueller, Cecilia Wessroy, Louis Wessroy, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth Bennis, niece Caroline Hupp, and nephew Daniel Bennis.

Joan’s family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the physicians, nursing staff and support team at Cleveland Clinic Akron General for the outstanding and compassionate care they provided during Joan’s fight against Covid-19. They also encourage, in honor of Joan, that all those who have not been vaccinated do so.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Women’s Endowment Fund at the Akron Community Foundation, 330-376-8522, www.akroncf.org.

Calling hours have been set for Sunday January 23, 2022 from 4pm to 6pm at Billow Funeral Chapel 85 N. Miller Road, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday January 24, 2022 at 10:00am in the Chapel at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1361 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44313. Inurnment will follow in the St. Paul’s Memorial Garden. A brief reception will be held in the Church’s Parlor following inurnment. To Share a Memory, Send a Condolence, or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)

The memorial service will be live streamed through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillowFuneralHomes .

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