Obituary of Jo Ann Washburn On December 7, 2018, Jo Ann Nied Washburn of Parker, CO, passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband Brooks and her family, of ovarian cancer. The community truly will miss this shining star. Jo Ann was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on August 20, 1962, the sixth child of eight children.
She was educated at St. Anselm grade school in Swissvale {third generation} and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Shadyside, in 1980. Childhood friend Gretchen Short said, “Jo Ann had such an infectious love of life! You couldn’t help but have an awesome day when you were with her.
I doubt that there exists a person who ever met Jo Ann and didn’t find her charming, witty, and captivating and find themselves wanting to spend more time with her. My husband always said that whenever Jo Ann came to town, we would clear our calendars just to be with her”. Jo Ann graduated from St. Michael’s College in Burlington, VT with a BA in Business Administration in 1984.
She loved being in VT, thriving on the proximity to the mountains and the laid back vibe of Burlington. She ran the campus movie theatre, igniting her life-long passion for old movies. Following graduation, Jo Ann and her sisters backpacked around Europe….
the diaries from the trip are still under seal. Moving to Boston reunited Jo Ann with college friends setting the stage for many years of professional progression, making new friends who remain close, and delving into all the city and environs had to offer. Jo Ann loved the Boston Pops, dancing to Little Joe Cook at the Cantab, rollerblading on the Commons then straight into the 7’s Ale House; going to Tanglewood concerts featuring Jimmy Buffet, the B52’s and the Grateful Dead.
Jo and her roommate hosted large annual Christmas parties in their small Davis Square apartment, generating stories that continue to generate laughs. She held professional positions in several tech companies, including Director positions with Evolving Systems and Excell Marketing Group, after launching her career in investor relations at Shiva. Her close friend Karen Warren remembers, “Working with Jo Ann was a breath of fresh air.
There wasn’t a bad situation she couldn’t find a way to make better. Each day was a challenge, as we were the front line communicating with investors on Wall Street – a tough crowd at best. Her temp status was short-lived…I hired her.
I felt we became friends from the first day I met her”. In 1988, Brooks was visiting his brother Brad in Boston, who suggested meeting up with a couple of ‘girls’ he knew. Jo Ann and a friend met the brothers in The Liberty Bar, and for Brooks, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her.
They instantly bonded over – and appreciated in each other – shared family values, love of the ocean, fun capers with friends, and dry senses of humor. Jo Ann and Brooks were easily embraced by their extensive friend groups, and more importantly, by each other’s families. They were married in 1991, launching a remarkable mosaic of family, friends, travel, adventure, music, holiday gatherings; and always bringing others along for the amazing ride.
They lived in Boston for several years, settling in Colorado in 1997. Jo Ann was a strong defender of her family. Neither Colorado’s cold weather nor feeling sick kept her from being present for them, especially on the sidelines at her sons’ soccer games.
She had a loud, “unique” rally cry, always cheering Carter and Casey on. Spending time doing simple things with Brooks, Carter and Casey brought her tremendous joy. Family game nights with close friends Mary Hayden and Heidi Plummer were hilarious, competitive events where participants had to bring their A game.
While holding her ‘boys’ close, she encouraged them to try new things, enjoy life to the fullest, and take the good with the bad. As a mother, Jo Ann was a patient, intense advocate for her sons, encouraging their interests, taking in their important matters, and fiercely loving them every step of the way. She made each birthday and holiday special, establishing traditions with flair, whimsy and loads of creativity.
The annual summer trip to visit Brooks’ family in Groton-Long-Point, CT was a highlight of Jo Ann’s year. She loved being by the sea, catching crabs with her sons, cooking fresh sea food for everyone, being out on the water sailing, and savoring how happy and relaxed her family was there. Friends from Boston and throughout New England would come, giving everyone a chance to rehash old stories, and compare receding hairlines and growing children.
Although Jo Ann was successful in the corporate arena, her true passion was always with food. In 2007, she graduated from the Cook Street School of Fine Cooking in Denver. Jo Ann launched Sweet 2 Savory Culinary Services LLC.
She loved her Executive Chef position at BAC /Ferguson in Englewood. She created amazing dishes using the freshest ingredients, thoughtful preparation, with focus always on flavor. Her cooking demonstrations and events at BAC/Ferguson and Williams-Sonoma incorporated Jo Ann’s exacting standards and fun spirit.
Every menu reflected her detailed process with each client, drawing them in to collaborate on each step of the process. She ensured every aspect was infused with whimsy, constantly tweaking to get everything just right. “Jo Ann always saved me food for after our parties so I could eat,” said Ken Jensen, a close friend.
“She always knew everyone’s favorite food. In all the years Jo Ann was our chef, there was never a bad menu, and everyone knew we had the best food thanks to her amazing talent. Jo Ann is the best chef ever.
She even slept at the BAC showroom once when we had back-to-back events. There was never a time when I didn’t see Jo Ann smiling. She lit up everyone’s world with her presence”.
Jo Ann was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2014, bringing on intensive treatments, surgeries and medical interventions. She didn’t allow the disease to become the center point of her family’s life; rather, she dug deep every day to keep her positive energy and attitude as her guiding forces, always planning trips, activities, and meals so they could spend time together. Jo Ann was beautiful bald, and wore fun hats to protect her head.
She hosted head-shaving parties to raise money for children facing cancer treatment. As only Jo Ann could, she became close friends with her Oncologist and the nursing staff who cared for her during her final hospital stay at Swedish Hospital. Her interests were extensive, with several common threads such as humor, color, and enjoying the outdoors.
She loved walking the family dogs, skiing, and going to concerts at Red Rock. It happened on 5th Avenue and Auntie Mame were just two of her favorite movies. Curling up with the remote, she honed in on The Thin Man and I Love Lucy series.
She loved being engaged in her book, movie and bunco groups, spending time with ‘the girls’ laughing, sharing, and keeping up with current trends. One friend shared, “Jo Ann made me laugh so hard champagne came out of my nose”. Jo Ann’s true roots remained in Pittsburgh.
She was a fanatical Steelers fan, trading stats with her sons, organizing the annual neighborhood Steelers vs. Broncos Turkey Bowl, and hosting fellow Pittsburgh fans for the regular season games. She kept in close touch with many childhood friends, plugging into reunions and reliving hilarious memories.
She was proud of Pittsburgh’s emergence as a foodie town and loved to check out new places. Most importantly, Pittsburgh and Ligonier have remained the gathering places for the Nied family. She simple wouldn’t allow sickness to get in the way of joining in raucous family celebrations and a trip to Stone Harbor last summer.
Her brother Charlie Nied remembers her this way: “Jo Ann was an old soul. She could see the beauty in everything”. Jo Ann is survived her by her husband Brooks B. Washburn, sons Thomas Carter Washburn and Casey Washburn.
Predeceased by her father, Thomas Nied; survived by mother Margaret C. Nied of Stuart, FL; Siblings Tom Nied of Salt Lake City, UT; Mary Ellen Nied Johansen of Savannah, GA; Charles C. Nied of Pittsburgh, PA; Peter C. Nied of Indiana, PA; Paul Joseph Nied of Ligonier, PA; Christopher C. Nied of Pittsburgh, PA; and Robin Nied Taylor of Bethel, CT. She is also survived by 16 nieces and nephews and 5 grandnieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on December 12 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Moore Church in Centennial, CO, followed by a reception at BAC/Ferguson.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, January 2nd and 3rd, 2019, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Nied Funeral Home in Swissvale, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church in Swissvale (time to be announced), followed by burial. Memorial donations can be made in Jo Ann’s name to The Cancer League of Colorado c/o Ken Jenson, PO Box 5373, Centennial CO 80155.
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