Page created by: Linda Levinthal Hunter

Joan Levinthal was my mom and my friend. She was a true California Girl and was happiest by the ocean. She was incredibly brave. Joan and her all female crew raced her 29 foot sailboat, "Still Blazin" to win after win. And the bravest part was she continued to race and win for several years after her 2001 diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

Along with her adoring husband Gene of 61 years, they traveled the world, most often via ocean liners, to stay near the sea that she loved so much. She started Yoga and insisted on Physical Therapy as often as possible to keep the disease from beating her. so she could continue to participate in everything she enjoyed in her life.

Even in the last few years, she tried to remain as independent as possible. Still seeking out fun things to do. When she didn't like what doctors told her, she found another doctor. And never accepted the bad news they handed out. . And even the last few months when she could barely move her hand to scratch her own nose and was incredibly uncomfortable, she didn't give up. I believe this is the reason that it took almost 17 years and until she was in her 80s, for this horrible disease to win.

Please consider donating to this wonderful organization that provided my mom and myself with so much support and information and hope for better treatments and a cure. This would be the best tribute to her amazingly strong spirit.