Name: Joan Barr (Worthy)
Birth Date: September 22, 1939
Birth Place: Chicago Illinois, USA
Death Date: March 21, 2015
Death Location: Evanston, Illinois
Summary
Joan Barr (1940- ) was the first woman elected Mayor of Evanston. She served two terms, from 1985 to 1993. Born in Rogers Park, Barr came to Evanston in the early 1960s. She owned a catering business and later was governmental affairs director for the American Dental Hygienists Association. Barr was active in many civic organizations, including the Dewey Community Conference, and was 2nd Ward Alderman for two terms. While mayor, Barr worked to address many issues, including downtown re-development, the city’s landfill problem, and the need for a new public library.
Father: James Carson Worthy
Mother: Mildred Louise Leritz Worthy
Children: Two; Debra Joan, Jennifer Bell
Education: Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Deacon School: 2007. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University: MM, 1996. Syracuse University: BA, 1961.
Years in Evanston: 1962-present
Sources: Archives and Collections: "Joan Barr." Biographical Files. Evanston History Center. Obituary, Evanston Review, March 25, 2015