2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 172
Celebrating the life of Joanne Terenzio Blakemore.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2026
WHEREAS, Joanne Terenzio Blakemore, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, lifelong civic leader, and beloved member of the Charlottesville community, died on November 30, 2025, leaving a legacy of love, generosity, and service; and
WHEREAS, born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in Manhattan, Joanne Blakemore moved to Singapore in 1982 with her husband, Haywood, and spent 40 years living abroad with her family in Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, and Doha; and
WHEREAS, in Singapore, Joanne Blakemore founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Children's Foundation, served on the boards of several local organizations, and organized a 9/11 memorial at Singapore's National Stadium that was attended by more than 10,000 people; and
WHEREAS, upon moving to Paris, Joanne Blakemore's community efforts included serving as president of the St. Anne's Guild and leading annual trips to Jerusalem and the West Bank to support two Palestinian schools in Ramallah; and
WHEREAS, once in Doha, Joanne Blakemore continued to make a difference in the lives of others as the president of an international women's group and by spearheading a donation program to assist immigrant workers and Syrian refugees; and