Joan Claire Cullman-Rosov's Obituary
Joan Claire Cullman-Rosov, age 74 of Gainesville, passed away Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Haven Hospice Care Center. Joan was born July 10, 1942 in Fairborn, Ohio to Frederick A. and Dorothy Cullman. The family moved to Orlando, FL in 1948 where she graduated from Bishop Moore High School in 1960. A member of the Girl Scouts, she attained the Curved Bar Award, the equivalent to becoming an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of South Florida and went on to acquire a Masters and PhD in BehavioralClinical Psychology.
Her multifaceted career began as a counselor with the State of Florida Welfare Department in West Palm Beach. She then transferred to Division of Youth Services as a counselor for Probation and Parole responsible for five counties. She was soon promoted to Unit Supervisor and then to Assistant District Supervisor. She retired as Senior Female Counselor Supervisor after 15 years of service. After retirement with the State, she crisscrossed the USA teaching “blocks of management methods” at various universities. She gave up the travel to assume responsibility as office administrator for her husband’s dental practice. Joan was in the process of converting to Judaism when she met her husband, Dr. Theodore J. Rosov in 1965 and they married in 1968 after her Orthodox conversion was accomplished under the guidance of Rabbi Hyman Fishman.
Joan’s eclectic talents were on display as a member of the water skiing team at Cypress Gardens for several summers and later snow skiing with her family. She loved to tinker with mechanical devices, including the family automobile before computerization took the fun out of being a mechanic. Joan was an animal lover with three male Weimaraners over the years and a precious rescue cat “Willow”. She founded the Nelle Smith Residence for Girls in West Palm Beach. She was an active Jewish leader in West Palm Beach serving as President for nine years of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth El and received the Woman of Valor Award. She also sang in the Temple Choir for 15 years and managed the Temple kitchen for several years. She served as Vice-President of the Florida Branch of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
Joan was a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband moved to Gainesville from Singer Island, FL in 2007. She enjoyed extensive crewel working and she was a puzzle queen. An avid reader all her life, Joan devoured over 500 books on tape after her recent illness prevented her from reading books in print.
Joan bravely fought cancer for nine years. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Ted; daughter, Tamara Rosov and son-in-law David Shapiro of Gainesville, FL., cousin, Christy Kreinest and her husband Dr. Richard Kreinest of Gainesville, FL; a multitude of cousins in Gainesville and the Midwest, and the matriarch of the family, Jane Kleuner of Cincinnati, OH. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tod F. Cullman.
The family wishes to acknowledge the support and compassionate skill of Dr. Bruce Brient, Dr. Lucio Gordan and the staff at Florida Cancer Specialists and at Haven Hospice.
Funeral Services will be conducted Sunday, September 18, 2016 at noon in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street, with Rabbi David Kaiman officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Meadows Central. The family will receive friends for one half hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorials to Alachua County Library District Foundation, 401 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or a charity of choice.
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