Obituary of Joyce F. Olson

Joyce Dorothy Fontaine Olson of Chester Village West, Chester, Connecticut died peacefully in her sleep on February 1, 2016. She was a Madison, Connecticut resident for 46 years, and was raised in Hamden, Connecticut. She was born to Gladys Bruns Fontaine & Raymond Alexander Fontaine in New Haven, CT. A 1943 graduate of Hamden High School, she showed early academic prowess by graduating as one of the top students in her class. Joyce went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in mathematics, with a minor French, from UCONN in 1947and a master of arts degree degree in education in 1952 from UCONN as well. She was also a Fulbright scholar. Joyce had a distinguished career as a math teacher at the secondary and collegiate levels which spanned many decades. She started her teaching career at Old Lyme High School in 1947 and taught there until 1953, when she started teaching in the North Haven school system. At North Haven, she held many positions in addition to her faculty position-yearbook faculty coordinator and acting department chair in the newly formed North Haven High School, to name a couple. It was also at North Haven High School that she would meet her husband, Robert H. Olson, of over 51 years. Joyce resigned from North Haven High School in 1966 when she gave birth to her only child, John. In 1972, Joyce returned to her teaching degree at Guilford High School and also became an associate adjunct professor at Quinnipiac College ( now Quinnipiac University) until 1978 and 2000 respectfully. One of her greatest professional honors was to be selected as a framer of "New Math" through her involvement in the Secondary Mathematics Study Group which was formed 1959 after the concern that American students were lacking in the Math and Science skills after the Soviet Unions Successful launch of Sputnik- the first unmanned spaceship to orbit the earth. The mathematic teaching techniques devised by Joyce and this group are still in effect and are considered the standard for secondary mathematics education to this day. When not educating young people, Joyce shared a very deep love and compassion for all animals and enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking. She will be remembered by all that knew her as a loyal friend, devoted wife and a most loving and caring mother. Her kind nature and warm smile will be missed by all! She is survived by her husband, Robert H. Olson of Chester and formerly of Seymour and Madison, her only son John H. Olson and daughter-in-law Katherine C. Wilkes of Madison . Visitation will on Wednesday from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Robinson Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St. Centerbrook. Funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 1:00pm. Interment West Cemetery, Madison. Memorial contributions may be made to SPCA of Connecticut, Inc. 359 Spring Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468-2100. To share a memory of Joyce or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com.