Joan M Little-Brock's Obituary
On Thursday, October 27, 2022, Joan M. Little-Brock of Draper, UT departed this earth for the great unknown. She was 79. She was surrounded with love and held closely by her husband Tom, son Bob, and dear friend Lori.
Born in Philadelphia to Joseph & Helene Zurad on February 26, 1943 as the first of four children, Joan was a bright and precocious child. Her early scholastic achievements earned her a place at the prestigious Gwynedd Mercy Academy, and she later attended Temple University. From childhood on, Joan was a courageous and independent spirit, always singing her own tune, and dancing to the beat of her own drum.
She met her first husband while the two worked for the same firm in Philadelphia. They married in 1963, and the following year their son and only child, Bob Little, was born. In 1965, Joan made the exceptional decision to return to the workforce; motherhood was nice, but she wanted more from life. She answered a classified ad for candidates who might have the aptitude to learn computer programming. She aced the exam, and so began her long and successful career.
Over the following years, Joan rose through the ranks with positions of increasing responsibility at several major corporations. It was during this time that she met Tom, who would later become her husband and partner for the remainder of her life. She retired from the industry in 2003 as a technology executive for a leading financial services provider.
Joan was truly one of a kind, a woman of incomparable creativity and effervescent joy, whose passion for living was boundless. She had a vibrant spirit and an infectious laugh that would light up every room she entered. And she was always, always doing something... reading a book, knitting a sweater, sewing a new outfit, painting one of her watercolors, organizing the local book club, volunteering on a campaign, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Joan’s dinners were downright legendary. From her famous French onion soup to homemade pasta sauce, from ‘sous vide’ salmon to freshly baked sourdough bread, everyone around her knew they would eat well when Joan was in the kitchen.
And Joan just loved to ski. Every winter, she and Tom would hit the slopes. Over five decades they skied at every major resort in the east and in the west (where they would eventually settle) and in Canada. In the warmer months, she was all about playing tennis. Tennis, tennis and more tennis. She whacked more balls over nets than anyone could possibly count. She was an outstanding player, and could be quite competitive, but always did it for the fun of the game. Together, she and Tom traveled extensively, and attended all of the major Grand Slam and ATP Tour tennis tournaments, as well as many Davis Cup championships.
And then there was the dancing. Joan loved to dance, especially doing the two-step to country-western music. She even had a dance floor installed in their house, so that she and Tom could practice at home. It’s not at all surprising since she found immense joy in social activities and entertaining. She loved fine wine, she loved good food, and she loved music, but mostly she loved the experience of sharing these favorite things with the people around her.
Joan also had an enormous affinity for movies, and for books. It seemed like every day she would ask, “Have you seen this?” or perhaps suggest, “You might want to check this out.” How she found the time is a mystery, but the books she read over her lifetime must number in the tens of thousands.
Most of all, Joan was a kind, joyful, energetic, and optimistic soul. Her smile, her laugh, her sense of humor, her sharp wit, and her penchant for deep and meaningful conversations... all were defining characteristics that set her apart. She was in a class by herself, and she will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
Joan is survived by her husband, Thomas G. Brock of Draper, UT, her son, Charles R. “Bob” Little of Baltimore, MD, and her three brothers and their wives and families: Joseph & Kathy Zurad of Punta Gorda, FL, Edward Zurad & Patti Gilligan Zurad of Shavertown, PA, and Robert Zurad & Diane DiPietro Zurad of Lansdale, PA.
A Celebration of Joan’s life will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022, beginning at 5:00 pm at Premier Funeral Services, 67 East 8000 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84047. Friends and family who are unable to attend in person will be able to share in the experience via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82749587964 . In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who are able kindly make a donation to Huntsman Cancer Foundation in support of their research efforts to treat, cure, prevent, and eradicate this dreadful disease.
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