Baltimore Family Mourns Former Educator and Coach Joanne Passano Bartlett
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Joanne Passano Bartlett, 64, passed away on November 7, 2025, at her home in Owings Mills, Maryland, surrounded by the care and support of her husband, Chris Bartlett, and their adult children, Elizabeth Brown and Nicholas Bartlett.
Born on March 21, 1961, Joanne dedicated her life to education—serving as a teacher, college counselor, coach, and tutor—and also shared that same guidance and love as a mother and grandmother.
Family, friends, and former colleagues are mourning the passing of Joanne Passano Bartlett, a respected educator, coach, and lifelong advocate for students, who died unexpectedly last weekend. She was a valued member of the Baltimore-area education community and a proud alumna of Denison University’s Class of 1983.
Bartlett earned her Bachelor of Arts in history from Denison, where she was an active member of campus life. She played on the university’s varsity field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority—experiences that helped shape her future career in education and athletic coaching.
Bartlett began her professional life teaching history and coaching varsity field hockey and lacrosse. She later joined St. Paul’s School for Girls, where she served as a college counselor from 1988 to 1997. Colleagues from that period remember her as a dedicated mentor who guided students through one of the most important transitions of their young lives.
Her commitment to education extended to working with students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences, returning to the classroom to ensure that all students had the opportunity to learn and thrive. Former students described her as patient, encouraging, and deeply invested in their success.
From 2013 to 2019, Bartlett played an influential role as a trustee of the St. Paul’s School for Girls. She chaired both the governance and trustee committees and served as chair of the board, helping lead the strategic effort to unify the St. Paul’s School and the St. Paul’s School for Girls. The initiative strengthened collaboration across campuses and enhanced educational resources available to students. Even after her board service concluded, Bartlett continued to support the school through campaign fundraising efforts.
Her loyalty to her alma mater remained steadfast throughout her life. Bartlett volunteered for numerous Denison initiatives, including alumni outreach, fundraising committees, and career advising. Together with her husband, she established the Christopher ’83 & Joanne Bartlett ’83 Fund for Career Exploration to help launch Denison students into meaningful professional paths. The Bartlett Family has also supported the university through additional gifts benefiting faculty and the Denison Annual Fund.
Those who knew her describe Bartlett as centered, warm, thoughtful, and generous with both her time and her talents. She balanced her professional and volunteer commitments with a deep devotion to her family.
She is survived by her husband, Chris, her two children, Elizabeth and Nicholas, and her grandson, Wesley. She resided in Owings Mills, where she continued her involvement in community and educational initiatives.
Her legacy endures in the students she taught, the institutions she strengthened, and the family and community she loved.
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