Joy Shechtman Mankoff

On June 1, 2024, at the age of 89, Joy Shechtman Mankoff died at her home in Dallas, Texas. Joy wore many titles with grace and power: Mother, Nana, wife, feminist, volunteer, and civic activist. Born on August 31, 1934, in Hartford, Connecticut to Hana and George Shechtman, Joy was a proud Connecticut Yankee. Alongside her older brother Mort, she grew up in West Hartford. She attended Connecticut College, and in 1955, while on spring break in the Virgin Islands, she met a young navy officer, Ronald Mankoff. In 1959, after a four-year courtship, she married Ron, and the young couple settled in Dallas, Texas, where they started a family and Ron began his career as a tax attorney. As she embarked on a career of activism and community involvement, Joy’s guiding light was the wisdom of Rabbi Tarfon, “It is not for you to complete the task of perfecting the world, but nor is it for you to desist from starting it.” Women’s causes and reproductive freedom were paramount to Joy. She served as president of the Boards of Planned Parenthood’s Dallas affiliate, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Greater Dallas Section, The Dallas Summit, and Women’s Council of Dallas County. She was founding president of the Women’s Issues Network and a founding chair of Older Women’s League, Dallas Chapter. Joy was a member of the convening committee and first board of the Dallas Women’s Foundation. Joy’s commitment to make Dallas a better city was unwavering. After earning a master’s degree in Civic Affairs from the University of Dallas in 1982, Joy served as Chair of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Committee. She was an appointed member of the Citizens/Police Relations Board, the Dallas County Park and Open Space Board, the Civil Service Adjunct Board, and the Urban Rehabilitation Standards Board. Joy served on many boards, including Temple Emanu-El, Literacy Instruction for Texans, the Dallas Memorial Center for Holocaust Studies, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dallas, the Dallas Symphony, and the Dallas Opera, which she served as Vice Chair. Joy and Ron supported many organizations, including the Joy and Ron Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks, the Mankoff Center for Jewish Learning at the JCC, and the Joy Shechtman Mankoff Center for Teaching & Learning at Connecticut College. Joy and Ron also took great pride in enabling PJ Library to deliver free books to Jewish children in North Texas. Joy’s contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Laurel Award from the American Association of University Women, the Women Helping Women Award, the Hanna G. Solomon Award from NCJW, the Institute of Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee (along with husband Ron), the Gertrude Shelburne Humanitarian Award from Planned Parenthood, SMU’s Women in Leadership Award, the Leadership Dallas Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Juanita and Henry Miller Founders Award from the Dallas Opera. Joy’s life was rich with love and activity. She enjoyed golf, tennis, and couples’ bridge. In 1998, Joy and Ron began spending summers in La Jolla, and travelling extensively, often with her children and her five “perfect” grandchildren. Pre-deceased by Ron, Joy is survived by her son Jeff, his wife Staci, their children, Bradley and Michelle and by her son Doug, his wife Marcia, and their children, Sarah, Max and Eli. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to NCJW or the Boys and Girls Club of Dallas. A memorial service will take place at Temple Emanu-El on Monday, June 3, 2024, 11:30 a.m., with reception to follow.

Joy Shechtman Mankoff

August 31, 1934 - June 1, 2024