Boccardi, Joan Marie – Fred H. McGrath & Son, Inc.

Joan Marie Boccardi of New Rochelle, an extraordinary mother, grandmother, spouse and community supporter, passed away on December 31, 2025 at her home in New Rochelle after a long illness. She was the mother of five children and the grandmother of twelve and the spouse of Louis D. Boccardi, the retired president and CEO of The Associated Press. She was 87 years old.

Joan was born to Mary Ellen and David Quinlan and grew up in Park Slope, Brooklyn where she lived until her marriage in 1964. She would have celebrated her 62^nd wedding anniversary in January.

After marrying and living for two years in the Bronx, Joan and Lou and their first child moved to the Chester Heights area in Eastchester. The growing family later moved to New Rochelle.

Joan had key roles in many community and school organizations. She served on several boards, including the HOPE Community Services food pantry and the College of New Rochelle’s Castle Gallery. She was a founding member and vice chair of the New Rochelle Community Fund. She organized and taught Great Books programs at local grammar schools. She served five years as a member of the board of the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation.

She was a leader of the mothers’ club at the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, which her three daughters and one granddaughter attended. Other projects included school and community public relations activities, including lobbying successfully for tighter school bus safety laws.

Joan was a magnificent partner, a caring dynamo who did all this while raising five children and often accompanying her journalist husband on business trips to many parts of the country and the world, including Russia, China, Latin America and Europe.

She conveyed warmth and caring and a smile wherever she went in whatever language.

Joan was a graduate of the Fordham University School of Education. Before leaving the business world to raise her family, Joan was a market representative for the Celanese Fibers Co. in home furnishings and men’s and women’s wear.

Her survivors are her husband, Louis, three daughters– Susan Boccardi (Marc Susswein), Lynn DeLisio (Michael) and Lauren Boccardi (Paul Pavlica)—and two sons Paul (Debra) and Mark (Dr. Kathleen Lambert). She leaves 12 grandchildren—Zachary, Benjamin and Sydney Susswein; twins Caralina and Ryan DeLisio; Luke, Venna Rose and Leo Boccardi; Derek and Ariana Boccardi and Quinn and Owen Pavlica. A brother, James J. Quinlan, pre-deceased her.

Family will receive friends at Fred H. McGrath & Son, Inc. Funeral Home at 20 Cedar Street, Bronxville, New York on Sunday, January 4, 2026 from 2pm-6pm. The funeral mass will be held Monday, January 5 at 10:30am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 8 Carman Road, Scarsdale, NY. The burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.

Donations may be made in her honor to HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle: www.hopecommunityservices.org

Condolences(10)

Daniel Beegan says
January 2, 2026 at 10:58 am

My condolences to Louis D. Boccardi and family. May her soul and those of all the Faithful Departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Jim Kennedy says
January 2, 2026 at 12:48 pm

Cindy and I send our condolences to Lou and the extended Boccardi family. Mrs. Boccardi was not only the matriarch of her own family, but also the AP itself for so many years. We were fortunate to be among those she touched and nurtured. Like a mom, she took a sincere interest in the careers of so many of us. It was a privilege to know her and experience her extraordinary personal touch.
Victoria says
January 3, 2026 at 7:27 am

Zania and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Boccardi family during this time of sorrow. Joan was truly an angel on earth, reflecting God’s love through her kindness and radiant smile. We trust that God has called one of His most precious angels home. May God grant peace to her family, and may her soul sleep in eternal peace .
Suzanna Clark says
January 3, 2026 at 11:49 am

Joan was a truly lovely person, and I’ve always remembered her warmly. I got to know her through the Board of Directors’ wives when I was involved with the group I often accompanied them on tours during board meetings, when they joined their husbands and Joan was always gracious, kind, and a pleasure to be with.
Tom Kent says
January 3, 2026 at 7:02 pm

Everyone who was fortunate enough to know Joan remembers her grace and kindness. Her support and respect for the AP and all its people was deep and heartfelt. Her loss will be mourned by hundreds in the AP and throughout the world of journalism. May she rest now in God’s care.
Beth says
January 4, 2026 at 8:38 am

Mrs. Boccardi radiated warmth wherever she went, an interpersonal skill which was complimented by her commitment to serve others with her giving heart. She embodied all that a person should be: giving, encouraging, extraordinary, faithful and faith-filled. She loved her family fiercely yet had a special knack for taking so many under her wing and treating each person in a room with equal importance. An intelligent innovator, no one could hold a conversation like her: she would listen intensely, interject some astute wonderings, then ask sincere, encouraging questions to launch us off into renewed purpose and direction.
We Gillins are so grateful that our lives and hearts crossed and imagine she is singing around a piano with our parents and friends, beaming down with pride on all the Boccardis and grateful for their devotion to her. Her angelic ways can now forever rest alongside God’s grateful embrace.
With our love, Ann, Mary Pat, Beth and Rob
Charlie Hanley says
January 4, 2026 at 10:03 am

Deepest condolences from Pamela and me to Lou and family for their great loss. Everyone who knew Joan knew her as a warm, kind and gracious woman, a wonderful “first lady” for the sprawling family of journalists and others known as The Associated Press. May she rest in peace.
Cathy Gay says
January 4, 2026 at 7:07 pm

Lou, For so many years, it has upset me that we had such a dramatic misunderstanding.. How, I wish you were at the helm of the AP today.. We are in such dire need of real journalists doing real journalism. Those barely exist today.
Please accept my deepest condolences.. May your wife’s memory be a blessing
646 2285795
Joe Ungaro says
January 7, 2026 at 5:52 pm

So sorry to hear about this. I wish I could have paid my respects in person. I remember a wonderful woman who conveyed intelligence, sincerity, warmth and a fun conspiratorial air. We had a lot of fun in Charlestown and I look back fondly on those times. I recall one time there was a loud bang in the house that startled everyone and her having a nice laugh when it turned out to be an old tube of Pillsbury Pop and Fresh rolls that had exploded in the refrigerator. Best to you all.
PETER B. SCHOLES says
April 1, 2026 at 5:51 pm

This is a beautiful picture or Mrs Boccardi as I felt I had to address her. A truly caring woman.
My condolences to all of her Family, especially Mr Boccardi.
I had the pleasure of working for the Boccardi Family before retiring..
I treated them with a deserving respect, and sorry to hear of The Family’s loss.

Boccardi, Joan Marie September 18, 1938 - December 31, 2025

Condolences(10)

Daniel Beegan says

Jim Kennedy says

Victoria says

Suzanna Clark says

Tom Kent says

Beth says

Charlie Hanley says

Cathy Gay says

Joe Ungaro says

PETER B. SCHOLES says

Leave a Condolence

Location