Jo Stefaniak Dewhirst

June 12, 1941 - November 21, 2022

Jo passed away peacefully in her home with family nearby. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri and her family moved to Southern California, first Eagle Rock and then South Pasadena. Jo was a long time resident of San Jose for the past 36 years. Prior to San Jose she resided in Los Gatos for 20 years where she raised her three children.

Jo had a successful career in the Bay Area, founding the Lupus Foundation of Northern California (formerly the Bay Area Lupus Foundation) in 1978 when she saw the need for local support and resources for lupus patients. Jo was the Lupus Foundation of Northern California (LFNC) first chairperson from 1978-1982. In 1982 the LFNC Board selected Jo as Executive Director and she served as LFNC Executive Director from 1982-2009 where she worked tirelessly to support those diagnosed with lupus.

Jo was pre-deceased by her parents Tony Stefaniak and Alma Reed. Jo is survived by her three children, Donna Dewhirst of San Jose, Andy Dewhirst of Keizer, Oregon, and Derek Dewhirst of San Jose; as well as her three grandchildren, her sisters Lou Ann Stefaniak Rollins '54 of Seattle, Washington, Nancy Schmidt of New Prague, Minnesota, and Doris Doyle of Oceanside; and related spouses and children.

Mercury News, January 15, 2023