(October 31, 2024) Joanne Goldsmith, a Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (MWHC) founding board member and a continuous MWHC supporter, passed away on October 29, 2024.
Among her many notable accomplishments, Joanne courageously stood up for desegregation and educational equity as a member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education during the contentious years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. She was the first woman to chair the Maryland State Board of Education and the first woman to serve as President of the National Association of State Boards of Education.
Joanne’s story is found in the books Women of Achievement in Maryland History and Women of Achievement in Prince George’s County.
At her request, Joanne’s family has included the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center as one of the places to which people can contribute in her memory. MWHC held a special place in Joanne’s heart. She proudly displayed the MWHC proclamation that Jill Moss Greenberg, another MWHC founding mother, recently presented to her on her 90th birthday.
Her life was an inspiration and a blessing to those who continue to advocate for educational equity and social justice, especially for women.
Joanne T. Goldsmith
