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Historical records matching Joyce Gardiner Ott
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About Joyce Gardiner Ott
Joyce H. Ott, 80, a lifelong advocate for improving the quality of life for Army families, died of multiple myeloma April 4, 2004, at her home in Fairfax, Virginia.
Mrs. Ott, the daughter, granddaughter and wife of Army generals, created and helped organize the first Army Family Symposium, which led to major improvements in how the Army and the rest of the military dealt with families of its soldiers. Many of the enlisted soldiers' spouses at the time had few ways to learn about their rights and benefits.
Her first effort to improve access to that information was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in the early 1970s, when she brought together many groups of spouses, primarily wives. When her husband took over the command of VII Corps in Stuttgart, Germany, Mrs. Ott organized more meetings to press for change.
But it wasn't until after her husband retired from the military in 1978 that she created and helped organize the first Army Family Symposium. It coincided with the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting. General Edward C. Myer, the Chief of Staff of the Army, attended some of the sessions and directed the staff to address the issues raised, which included increasing information and support available to the families of enlisted soldiers.
"She certainly was able to give us a voice and show us we had alternatives, which was significant," said Nancy Alsheimer, a board member and former president of the National Military Family Association. "She was very conscious of so many of the different issues. . . . She seemed to have a feel for how to make community and let people be heard and set up support systems for them."
Mrs. Ott, a native Washingtonian, graduated from Alice Deal Junior High School before her father's military career took her elsewhere for high school. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in human relations from the University of Oklahoma in 1975.
Mrs. Ott taught a class on the military family for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair. She won the Molly Pitcher Award from the U.S. Field Artillery Association and the Margaret Hallgren Award from the National Military Family Association for her leadership.
She was a gardener and gourmet cook and enjoyed tennis, horseback riding, snow- and water-skiing, swimming and diving. She formed a book club that has lasted for 17 years. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Alexandria.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Lieutenant General David E. Ott of Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and four children, David E. Ott Jr. of Vincenza, Italy, Judy Griebling of Golden, Colorado., Nancy Leah Dunn of Panama City, Florida, and Lisa Johnson of Anchorage.
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Joyce Gardiner Ott's Timeline
| 1923 |
October 5, 1923
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Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States
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| 2004 |
April 2, 2004
Age 80
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Fairfax, Virginia, United States
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| ???? |
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
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