Joan G. Cropper

SCARBOROUGH – Joan G. Cropper, 91, of Scarborough, died Friday Jan. 28, 2022, in Scarborough.

Joan was born in Queens, N.Y. on June 14, 1930, the daughter of Richard and Moya (Blagden) Grald. She grew up in Queens, N.Y. and went on to attend Oswego State University, Hofstra University and eventually, the University of Hawaii. While studying for her advanced degree, she met her husband to be on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii and she was married to Donald Cropper in 1969. They were married for 48 years.

Joan worked as a 6th grade teacher in Levittown, N.Y. at the Summit Lane Elementary School for 30-plus years. Joan loved her students and enjoyed the summers off to spend time with friends and family on Long Island’s South Shore beaches or at the Syosset/Woodbury Community pool.

Joan enjoyed gardening, reading, watching sports with her husband, travelling across the U.S. and abroad as well. She was a big supporter of her son, Douglas, and his teammates in their sporting events up and through high school and college. She enjoyed spending the holidays with the Kliens, Kushners, Mannings, Kasvens and Kuos. In her later years, Joan loved being a grandma and spending time with her granddaughter, Olivia.

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Donald, in 2018; her brother, Jack Grald and her sister-in-law Beverly Grald.

She is survived by her son, Douglas Cropper and his wife Stephanie, of Scarborough; and her granddaughter, Olivia; her nephews Christopher Grald and wife Amy of Ohio, Eric Grald and wife Michelle of New Hampshire and Jon Grald and his partner Betsy Vicencio of New York, a niece, Helyne Hamelburg and her husband Stephen of Massachusetts; and so many other friends that she considered family.

A graveside service will be held at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a time to be announced in the spring.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland.

To visit Joan’s memorial page or share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @ http://www.stjude.org.