Joanne Rogovin

Joanne Rogovin (Herkus) passed away February 10, 2023, her 83rd birthday, from injuries sustained from a fall in August 2022. She was the daughter of David T. Herkus, MD and Lillian (Wolberg).

Joanne attended Jamaica High School, Queens, NY where her proudest achievement was interviewing Eleanor Roosevelt for the school newspaper. She attended Boston University at 16 years of age, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Communications. Always a trailblazer, Joanne was the first Affirmative Action Officer for Boston Children’s Hospital in the 1970’s and became an HR executive specializing in Executive Training and Development and Strategic Planning at numerous financial institutions including Banker’s Trust and the NYSE. She spent the last years of her career as a senior consultant at IBM traveling to Europe and around the US to work with clients.

When she was in her 50’s, Joanne became a LICSW with a degree from Yeshiva University and received additional training at the New York Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. She used that training as a volunteer therapist for a men’s AIDS group at Gay Men’s Health Crisis in NYC which gave her great joy. A lifelong activist for Women’s Rights, Joanne worked tirelessly on numerous political campaigns.

After 35 years in NYC, Joanne moved to The Berkshires and spent the last eight years of her life relishing the arts and culture so abundant there, quickly making significant friendships to add to her already extensive family of friends. A friend joked that she moved there in August and by December had 40 guests at a holiday party. Joanne’s brilliance and openness naturally attracted people and she impacted countless lives. She volunteered extensively at organizations supporting Immigrant rights and equality, sharing her time, business acumen, raising her voice, and holding her signs high for the causes she felt so passionately about.

Joanne had a lifelong love of traveling, cooking, reading, and learning. She leaves behind her adoring and adored daughter Elissa K. Rogovin of Framingham, MA; her Godson and cousin, Jeffrey Hoffman, his wife Linda, and their sons Daniel and Jason of Gaithersburg, MD; her brother Andrew Herkus and his wife Carmella of Greensboro, North Carolina; and her beloved rescue cat, Marigold.

SERVICES – A Celebration of Life will be held in The Berkshires later this year. Donations in her honor can be made to Volunteers in Medicine, Great Barrington, MA; Multicultural BRIDGE in The Berkshires; or a Reproductive Rights organization of your choice. To send remembrances to the family, please visit finnertyandstevens.com.