Joanne C. FitzPatrick, née Cora Joan Carr, an iconic matriarch and legendary woman of her era renowned for her zest for life and indomitable spirit, passed away peacefully at home June 2, 2024, at the age of 95.
Joanne was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Hilda Suydam Carr and granddaughter of Cora Bowne Suydam and Charles Suydam. Throughout her vibrant life, she was known by many names: Cora Joan, Honeybunch, Joannie, Nikki Carr, Joanne Manning, Jo, Joanne Fitz, Mom, Grandma, Grandma Jo, and Gigi.
Joanne’s early years were spent in Palm Beach, where she lived with her mother, sister and grandmother. She also called Fennville, Michigan, and Monmouth County home during her childhood, alternating among all three places.
Joanne C. FitzPatrick was proud of her Bowne heritage, tracing her roots back to the early settlers of Monmouth County. She was the ninth-generation descendant of John Bowne, who, along with his father William Bowne, was instrumental in the establishment of Monmouth County through the Monmouth Patent of 1665. William Bowne and his sons, including John, were part of a group that purchased land from the local Lenape tribe and established one of the first permanent English settlements in New Jersey. This pioneering spirit and deep connection to the region’s founding was a significant part of Joanne’s identity and legacy.
In 1947, Joanne graduated from Red Bank Regional High School. She began her family in 1949 when she married her first husband, George Bell, and gave birth to her first child, Doug Bell. They lived in Tinton Falls until their divorce in 1959. It was then that Joanne took on the formidable task of raising her four children as a single mother while working as an insurance underwriter, living in both New Jersey and St. Petersburg, Florida.
In 1970, Joanne married Andrew Manning who was a detective for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Together they owned Manning’s Jetty (now Donovan’s Reef) and several racehorses. They resided in Colts Neck and Little Silver. Following their divorce in 1980, Joanne remained in Little Silver and began working in New York City while simultaneously enjoying her early years as a grandmother.
In 1984, Joanne married Guy FitzPatrick, the brother of her best friend, Ann Watkins. They moved to Fairport, New York, where Joanne became an avid and talented golfer, running the 7 a.m. Tuesday Morning Ladies League at Victor Hill Golf Club and receiving coaching from Oak Hill’s Craig Harmon. She could often be found playing 36 holes of golf a day only to wake up the next day and get back out there with equal enthusiasm for the game.
A self-proclaimed gypsy at heart, Joanne traveled extensively with Guy, exploring the Alps and various European countries. In 2000, they bought a Fleetwood Bounder RV and traveled across the United States, golfing, sightseeing and experiencing the culture and national parks in 48 states. Her favorite destinations included Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and Alabama. After life on the road, they lived in her beloved home in Little Silver for many years before eventually settling in Tequesta, Florida, at Riverbend Golf Club, in 2014. There, Joanne enjoyed an active social life, playing in the ladies’ golf league and running the community’s bridge league.
Joanne was a mother to four, grandmother of 13, great-grandmother to 17, a beloved friend to many and a devoted pet mama to many furry friends. She was best known for her incomparable zest for life, take-charge attitude, magnetic personality, iconic style, one-of-a-kind phrases and athleticism in golf and bowling (she enjoyed both sports for decades in league play and competition). Joanne was a beloved and respected matriarch, leaving an indelible mark on her family and friends – a legacy of living life “her own way” that inspired everyone who knew and loved her.
She is predeceased by her mother Hilda Carr of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister Constance Temple Carr of St. Petersburg; son Michael G. Bell of Oceanport; grandson Thomas “Toby” Bell of Shrewsbury; first husband George Bell; second husband Andrew Manning; and son-in-law Eric Reinertsen.
Joanne is survived by her husband of 40 years, Guy FitzPatrick of Tequesta, Florida; three children: Douglas Bell (Sarasota, Florida), Chris Bell (Tequesta, Florida), and Marianne Bell Reinertsen (Little Silver); 12 grandchildren, including Sarah Reinertsen-DiMare (Holmdel), Megan Reinertsen-Oliva (Little Silver), Michael “Chael” Bell (Oceanport), Brian Bell (Clearwater, Florida), and Kevin Bell (Shrewsbury); and 17 great-grandchildren.
A private celebration of Joanne’s life will be held July 21 locally. Please reach out to the family for further information.
The article originally appeared in the July 11 – 17, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
