Joan Mondschein, 60, died Aug. 1, 2014.
Ms. Mondschein graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a bachelor’s degree and Master of Arts in international relations. She organized and directed special projects in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Very Special Arts International and the President’s Committee on Employment of the Disabled. In Israel , she served with the Foreign Ministry escorting and arranging special events for dignitaries from the United States. She also served in Nachal, a branch of the Israeli Army that assisted new immigrants and was assigned special military duties in the Sinai, Golan Heights and Jericho. Ms. Mondschein arranged symposiums for the disabled in Central America and the Caribbean. In Guatemala, she created a new initiative for training and hiring disabled youth. When she returned to the United States, she was recognized for her distinguished service and was President Bill Clinton’s special assistant for special projects, working with him for 10 years. Ms. Mondschein came to Arizona for a kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic and was recognized for initiating a new law that requires all dialysis workers to have technical training and a license.
Ms. Mondschein was preceded in death by her father, Murray Mondschein. Survivors include her mother, Ruth Mondschein; and sister, Paula, both of Tucson.
Graveside services were held in the Temple Emanu-El section of Evergreen Cemetery with Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon officiating.
