Joan Beatrice Friedsam Belmont, age 89, cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on April 25, 2020. Born in New York City on January 18, 1931, to Beatrice Peters and James Friedsam, she spent her childhood on the Upper West Side until marrying and eventually relocating to Weston, Connecticut.

Her greatest joy was raising her three children and, often, their many friends who graced her doorstep over the years. While actively involved as a volunteer for the Red Cross, she also devoted many years to wildlife initiatives as well as contributing to the design, construction, and operation of the Belmont Ridgefield Golf Complex in Ridgefield.

Joan was a woman of indomitable grit, intelligence, creativity, kindness, grace, style, and unbounded compassion. Her generosity of spirit toward all of God’s two- and four-legged creatures was legendary. After moving to Silver Brook Farm in Newtown, 20 years ago, Joan dedicated the remainder of her life to the rescue and rehabilitation of displaced and injured waterfowl. Her open-farm-door policy was recognized far and wide.

She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Belmont. Joan leaves behind her children Gary and Kathy Belmont, Jaime Belmont and Dave Bergeron, Diana and John Kruzshak; and granddaughters Kate Belmont, Tess Belmont, and Samantha Kruzshak.

Beloved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, this loss will be felt deeply by many. Her extraordinary life and legacy of giving, caring, and loving may be celebrated through donations to animalnation.org and/or bootsandbuddies.org.

The Newtown Bee June 5, 2020