Joan Marie Hipler

Joan Marie Hipler (1953-2026), MBA (2006) Barry University, Miami. PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, (2008) Barry University, Miami. Joan passed away from at home with her husband and loving relatives and friends beside her on June 28, 2026.

Joan was a native New Yorker and she educated herself through attendance at universities in New York and Florida in health care beginning from when she obtained her RN and BSN to her PhD in Nursing. She worked for a number of health care providers in Florida and ultimately for Memorial Regional Hospital for 18 years in Corporate Compliance until she retired in 2020. Joan, who was known as J Puffin by her husband was an avid traveler and adventurer, health care advocate, loving spouse, pilates participant, and caretaker of her parents until their death. She placed so many others ahead of herself due to her passion for health care accessibility. Her passion was traveling, and she and her husband and soul mate, Harry, traveled to all seven continents and some countries multi-times traveling with each other as late as May, 2026. Some included India, EU nations, Israel, Egypt, Japan, China, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, Turkey, Asia, Mexico, South and Central America, Italy, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Viet Nam, Madagascar among many others. Before traveling abroad, Joan and Harry visited many of the National Parks in the USA. Joan and Harry clicked upon meeting in July,1992, married in April,1999, and on account of their love and commitment to each other remained married and together as loving companions sharing experiences until she passed. A veracious reader, she and Harry discussed almost any topic, including plans for the next trip, major league baseball and NFL football, politics, US history, the arts, art history, International Relations, and discussions about daily events. She was an avid Yankees and Jets fan. To say the least, she was eclectic and was interested in an array of topics besides being a gem and a loving and dear wife.

She is survived by her sister, Helen; brother in law, Joe; niece Laura; nephew, Brian; cousins, and so many of her dear friends.

May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her and inspiration to those who follow in her footsteps. She will be missed by all who knew her. And her husband, Harry, will especially miss his J Puffin.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Memorial Regional Cancer Center and the Memorial Regional Breast Cancer Center, Hollywood Florida.

I share with you one of her favorite passages:

I Am (Dominick Diorio, b. 1984)

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blew.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die.