Joan Patricia Collins, Col. USAF (Ret)

Joan Collins, 93, died peacefully on August 11, 2021, having lived a full life of service to her family, community, and country. Born in San Francisco on May 4, 1928, Joan was the youngest of three children of Irish immigrant parents, George and Brigid Collins. Her sister, Mary Dunne, and brother, Joseph, predeceased her. A childhood sorrow was the death of her father in 1939. Always decisive, following graduation from St. Paul’s High School, Joan knew her calling and enrolled at St. Joseph College of Nursing, graduating in 1949. During her school years, Joan formed lifelong, vibrant friendships. Joan loved to experience new places and began her career in Los Angeles and Portland, but returned home to care for her dying mother. In 1957 Joan joined the U.S. Air Force, both to serve her country and to see the world. After basic training, she was stationed in Puerto Rico and Japan. In 1963 Joan completed hazardous training and, as a Captain assigned to an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, flew missions to Tan Son Nhut and Cam Ranh air bases in Vietnam evacuating wounded GIs to base hospitals in Japan at great personal risk. Joan completed her military career stateside, obtained her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Omaha in 1965, and retired as a Colonel. She continued her nursing career at Kaiser San Francisco and Sacramento and retired in 1988. Travel was a constant pleasure and Joan eventually visited six continents, reuniting with old friends and making new ones.

During retirement Joan served by volunteering at humane societies, Loaves & Fishes, and building with Habitat for Humanity. She spent happy hours in her garden and watching the Tennis Channel. Joan was devoted to family, she remembered every birthday or celebration and was renowned for her poolside barbeques, delicious meals, and generous hospitality. Joan loved all animals and treasured the kitties she rescued or adopted as strays. In 2015 Joan moved to a retirement community in Daly City. She devoted her life to the care and comfort of others and leaves a legacy of good work accomplished. Joan will be remembered for her deep faith, modesty in the light of her many achievements, pride in her Irish heritage, her straightforward character, ability to speak her mind, and zest for new horizons. Joan is mourned by her nieces, Nancy, Mary Anne, Bernadette (Nickie) Dunne, and Christine Sinn, grandnieces and nephews, and dear friends. A celebration of Joan’s life will be scheduled at a later date.

Donations in Joan’s memory may be made to St. Anthony’s Dining Room, 121 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, or to SPCA, 201 Alabama Street, San Francisco, CA 94103