Our Family Tree (Jiapu 家譜/家谱)

Stephanie W. Joe The only child of Harding and Blanche Wong, Stephanie was born in Santa Monica, California on June 13, 1949. Raised in West Los Angeles, Stephanie attended University Extension School (UES), affiliated with UCLA, then Emerson Junior High School and University High School. She and her friends were visitors to the stores, pizza restaurants and theatres in nearby Westwood Village. Stephanie’s dream of attending UC Berkeley in 1967 was dashed when her mother forbade her to attend there and would only allow her to enroll at UCLA. Even though Stephanie’s family lived within walking distance of UCLA, Stephanie would only attend, if she was allowed to live on campus. While working at the UCLA Student Health Center in the summers, she met her future husband, Stanton, who was doing summer medical research projects at UCLA School of Medicine. While dating Stanton, who attended medical school in San Francisco, Stephanie convinced her parents to allow her to transfer to UC Berkeley for her last two years of college. Her fellow students living in the same apartment found it remarkable that Stephanie was so efficient that her term papers were always done days and weeks before they were due, as most students were staying up all night to finish their term papers due the next day. Stephanie graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in Psychology. After graduating UC Berkeley in 1971, Stephanie married Stanton on March 27, 1971. Since Stanton still had five weeks of medical school to complete, Stephanie and Stanton spent a three-month honeymoon in Europe, five weeks in London so Stanton could complete a five-week radiology program at Westminster Hospital. On long weekends, the two would use their student British railway passes to visit other parts of Britain. The following six weeks Stephanie and Stanton toured continental Europe using the student rail passes to visit Paris, Milan, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm and back to London. By sleeping on overnight train rides, train stations or bed and breakfast/pensions, the two, together, were able to keep their travel cost down. Upon returning to London to fly back to the USA, the two only had enough money to purchase their airfares. After arriving in Los Angeles a few days before Stanton was to start his medical internship at LA County-USC Medical Center, the couple lived in the married interns’ housing. Stephanie attended UCLA for a year to obtain her Teaching Credentials. The following year they lived in a house in Hermosa Beach, while Stanton was in Radiology residency and Nuclear Medicine fellowship for four years. Stephanie spent four years teaching third grade students at Hoover Street Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles, where she met a group of young teachers who became good friends. In 1976 Stephanie gave birth to Allison, and two years later, Peter. When Stanton found a radiology position in Glendale in 1977, Stephanie and Stanton bought their current residence in La Canada, where Stephanie raised their two children. In 1985, Miss Stephanie took a teaching assistant position in the Yellow Door Room for pre-K kids at St. George’s Preschool in La Canada. Eventually becoming the head teacher for the Pre-K kids, she and her long-time assistant, Kay Linden, were both dedicated and proficient in teaching their students social skills and preparing them for Kindergarten. Miss Stephanie made many friends at St. George’s, including Pam Stephens, the former director. Stephanie would receive the most gratification in seeing her own children grow up, both through college and graduate schools and both marrying wonderful spouses. While Allison was at UC Davis, Stephanie would have an annual Presidents’ Day weekend trip at a large North Lake Tahoe condo, where many of Allison’s classmates spent a weekend playing in the snow, playing indoor games and eating meals pre-prepared by Stephanie. These were so successful that Allison and her former college roommates, their spouses and kids are continuing this tradition. Maintaining her ties with family and friends, Stephanie would make many visits to Hawaii. She traveled to Turkmenistan while Allison was serving as a Peace Corp volunteer. France, Spain, Turkey and the Joe Family cruises were Stephanie’s other travel highlights. The past few years traveling for Stephanie (Mama Joe) was limited to Sunday evening family dinners and trips to Northern California for her UCSF ALS Clinic appointments, but more importantly to visit with Allison and Zoey, Mama Joe’s beloved little three-year old granddaughter. The most touching moment for Mama Joe was in September, 2010. Two-day old baby Zoey was brought home to joyous parents and grandparents. The next day at a follow-up pediatric exam, Allison was told Zoey had to be admitted to the NICU at the local hospital. The neonatologist told the family that Zoey may have a serious disease and must be transferred to the Stanford Hospital NICU. With the ALS already limiting Mama Joe’s ability to walk and talk, Mama Joe struggled with help to walk up to Zoey. By that time Zoey had numerous tubes inserted into her body, Mama Joe whispered into Zoey’s ear “I love you, Zoey” as she was shedding tears. For three years, Mama Joe and little Zoey bonded with each other and would say “I love you” to each other as often as they could with Zoey giving Mama Joe hugs and Eskimo kisses. When Zoey arrived for Mama Joe’s final hours, Mama Joe was in a deep sleep and little Zoey placed a flower on Mama Joe’s arm, just like the angels holding flowers at Mama Joe’s bedside. The next morning, knowing Mama Joe was very ill, Zoey would put antibiotic ointment and bandages on Mama Joe’s arm, whispering into her ear “I love you, Mama Joe” and shedding tears the next day when her Mama Joe was gone. Miss Stephanie (Mama Joe) was teaching until her last breath. Just ask Zoey and her former students.