Joan Reitsma
Beloved educator and former owner of The Giving Tree, Joan Reitsma was truly an extraordinary woman whose impact on the Coral Gables community will be felt for generations to come.
Joan, who passed away recently, taught for decades at Coral Gables High School before retiring and opening her beloved knitting and gift shop in Coral Gables, where she continued doing what she loved most — bringing people together and helping others.
Joan was deeply involved in the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and seemed to support every charity and nonprofit organization that crossed her path. Simply put, Joan never said no. Whether it was the Junior Orange Bowl, Actors’ Playhouse, Coral Gables Community Foundation, Coral Gables Woman’s Club and its Children’s Dental Clinic, Rotary Club of Coral Gables, or countless Thrivent charitable programs, Joan was always there — volunteering, donating, encouraging, and helping however she could.
At the chamber, it was no surprise that Joan served on the Education Committee, where she helped create the Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High School Awards Breakfasts that over time evolved into a Coral Gables Community Foundation program. Joan loved recognizing students and seeing the excitement on their faces as they received awards and encouragement for their accomplishments.
She often counted on Earl Maulding of Actors’ Playhouse and the late Mark Trowbridge to help provide entertaining programs, but Joan herself always did the heavy lifting behind the scenes while generously giving credit to others.
Joan also was a gifted teacher in everyday life. She taught many how to knit and then inspired them to join her in knitting dozens and dozens of scarves for veterans each year. More often than not, Joan donated most of the yarn herself, always making sure there was enough for everyone to contribute.
Even when confined to bed, Joan’s giving spirit never stopped. Not long ago, when Coral Gables Rotary was collecting socks and supplies for veterans and the homeless, what was expected to be a few donated bags from Joan turned into enough items to fill an entire truck. That was simply who Joan was — always wanting to help as much as she possibly could, regardless of her own circumstances.
Joan was brave, courageous, generous, and kind to the very end. The world is unquestionably a better place because she was in it, and she will be deeply missed by the countless lives she touched through her friendship, compassion, and tireless dedication to helping others.
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