Joan Bird Eisenhauer, Beebe founder’s granddaughter

Joan Bird Eisenhauer, 87, of Naples, Fla., died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla.

She was born Dec. 31, 1934, at Beebe Hospital in Lewes, daughter of the late Frank Roxbury Swezey and Elsie Beebe Swezey. She was a graduate of University of Maryland Nursing School and worked as a supervisor of private home health care services, as well as various clinical visiting nurse and hospice teams. She was also a nurse manager at Brookhaven retirement community in Lexington, Mass.

She is survived by her husband, Richard C. Eisenhauer of Naples, Fla.; six children, Jane Bird Mazerall (Ken Gonsalves) of Lowell, Mass., Anne Bird Fonseca (Tom Fonseca) of San Clemente, Calif., Edward Dennis Bird Jr. (Alice Bird) of Mount Pleasant, S.C., John David Bird (Sue Miller Bird) of Excelsior, Minn., Susan Catherine Bird (Pete Smith) of Grand Junction, Colo., and Christine Joan Bird of Long Beach, Calif.; three stepchildren; Terry Eisenhauer Jones, Richard C. Eisenhauer Jr. and Randall A. Eisenhauer; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Joan was a beloved wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was devoted to her family and proud of her legacy as a descendant of the co-founders of Beebe Hospital, her grandfather Dr. James Beebe Sr. and her great-uncle Dr. Richard Beebe. She was very active as a respected leader in the local Naples community with various social and support networks, and had a large contingent of loyal friends and acquaintances who will miss her company, guidance, mentorship and wisdom.  Joan was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Naples and Lewes Yacht Club.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church of Naples in Naples, Fla. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Beebe Hospital Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, beebehealthcare.org/beebe-medical-foundation.