Joanne Alter Obituary

Dear Alters: Jim & the families of Jennifer,Johnathan,Jamie, and Harry.
with Enid's Laurie,Julie & the Bob and Charlie Rivkin families: I am bonded today with not only your loss and pain but also the joy, pride and gratitude we all share with you of having had the magnificent grace,strength,wisdom and love of the most influencial person in our lives ... the gift that allowed me to feel a part of this family ... the guiding light,encouragement, love I remember and keep in my heart of Joanne Alter.

My condolences to Joanne's entire family. I met her when she and James first got married. James is my cousin. I did not know her well but can picture her in my mind. I am sure she will be missed.

To Joanne Hammerman Alter's Family

With our deepest sympathy for your loss and for ours

Class of 1949 Mount Holyoke College
Jane Hellawell, President

With deepest sympathy for the Alter family
Felice Dublon
Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

To The Family of Joanne Alter:
My sincerest expressions of deepest sympathy on the passing of a tremendous person who filled many roles with candor, courage, stamina and gusto: among them wife, mother, grandmother, champion of young learners, civic leader, and, above all, an effective voice for bringing about change in schools, society, government, and "correcting wrongs and injustice" as she saw them.

Personally, I have lost a dear and good friend of over twenty-five years. The children and families of Cabrini Green, especially of Byrd Academy and Jenner Academy of the Arts, have lost a gentle giant force who aided those less fortunate and contributed in bringing about improved achievement and comprehension, especially in Reading; as well as enhancement of self-esteem. She valued each person as unique; had a keen sense of judgment; and, was a true visionary. Through the efforts of Joanne and Marion Stone, WITS became a viable force in our school community, a beacon of hope and strength for those who had the good fortune of benefitting from the volunteers who were loyal to WITS and its goals. Joanne was a caring, concerned person/parent/leader who went beyond the ordinary in order to achieve the extraordinary. I will always remember our quiet, frank conversations, her advice, her courage even in the face of adversity and in overcoming challenges. There can be no better monument to her memory than the knowledge that many have benefitted from her wisdom, labors, and keen sense of "getting the job done!"

May Jim and the family know that I and others, appreciate them for sharing Joanne with us and that her great legacy will live on for years to come. Take care, my friend, you have left footprints on the sands of history--shalom.
Sincerely,
Joseph F. Gartner
Former Principal of Richard E. Byrd Community Academy
Director, Office of School, Family and Community Programs and Partnerships. Jenner Academy

all Chicago is proud of you.as I am to have known your children who leave distinguished careers as a forever lever lasting tribute to you

Please know my thoughts and prayers are with your family.
With deepest sympathy,
Michael Cleavenger

I am very sorry for the loss of Commissioner Alter...she was a lovely woman and always said hello,even when I saw her in the grocery store. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences. May her memory be eternal.
Diane M. Casey MWRDGC '64-'94

Your friends at Molly Bea's INGREDIENTS will miss you + Jim. Your visits were always a welcome, warm surprise up here in the dunes.

What a woman. Memories of her brillance, courage and kindness will remain in my heart. My deepest sympathys to you all. Bobby Dougherty

My deepest condolences to the entire Alter family.

I was privileged to serve as Joanne's first Administrative Aide after she was elected to the Metropolitan Sanitary District's then Board of Trustees in the early 1970's. To this day, I remember many of the important lessons and insights she generously offered to this then young graduate student in political science.

Joanne truly altered the political landscape, and had a huge impact on the increased participation of women in public service and in positions of leadership generally. She was a tireless, vocal and effective advocate for responsibility in government, often arguing for a level of professionalism and openness before it became de rigeur to do so, and often was when it was politically unpopular--and sometimes politically perilous--for her to do so. Way ahead of her time, she insisted on the highest professional and ethical standards of transparency and accountability among our elected and appointed officials, occasionally and stoically enduring the public ridicule of others less persuaded of her positions. Undeterred, and ever passionate in her beliefs, she soldiered on, with a compass always pointed toward honesty, openness, and full disclosure. She was committed to responsibility to one's community, and being accessible to her constituents.

Joanne will be missed by all whose lives she touched, but leaves a lifetime of accomplishments and contributions that have, and will continue, to light the path for others who follow her.