Owings Mills, Maryland – The Baltimore education community is grieving the loss of Joanne Passano Bartlett, a respected former educator, coach, and mentor, who passed away at her home in Owings Mills on November 7, 2025. She was surrounded by her husband, Chris Bartlett, and their children, Elizabeth Brown and Nicholas Bartlett.
Bartlett, 64, dedicated her career to supporting and empowering students both inside and outside the classroom. A proud Denison University alumna, Class of 1983, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and played varsity field hockey and women’s lacrosse during her time there. She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority—experiences that helped shape her early foundation as a teacher and coach.
Over the years, Joanne served in numerous educational roles throughout the Baltimore region, including teaching history and coaching varsity field hockey and lacrosse. She later served as a college counselor at St. Paul’s School for Girls from 1988 to 1997, where she was recognized as a thoughtful guide who helped students navigate critical academic transitions.
In addition to her work in college counseling, Bartlett became an advocate for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges. Her return to classroom teaching to serve this population reflected her lifelong commitment to ensuring equity and opportunity for every learner.
From 2013 to 2019, Bartlett served as a trustee of St. Paul’s School for Girls, where she chaired governance and trustee committees and later served as chair of the board. She played a central role in advancing the strategic effort to unify St. Paul’s School and St. Paul’s School for Girls, a move that strengthened collaboration across campuses and expanded student resources. Even after her tenure on the board, she continued supporting the school through campaign initiatives.
Friends, former colleagues, and students describe Bartlett as patient, compassionate, and deeply dedicated to the success of every student she encountered. Her lifelong commitment to education will continue to be felt throughout Baltimore’s academic community, and her impact will be remembered by the many lives she touched.