Joan Robinson Clark, 87, of Minnetonka, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Sunday afternoon, June 3, 2007 at Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, after a long struggle with Alzheimer??(TM)s disease. Preceded in death by husband, Charles Richard Clark; infant son, Dennis Rayleigh Clark; and parents, Daniel Sommer Robinson and Oma Glasburn Robinson. Survived by sister, Sydney Robinson Charles; nephew, Gordon Robinson Charles (Susan); great-nephew, William Charles; and great-niece, Caroline Charles. Survived also by many dear friends in California and former colleagues at the United States Geological Survey and in academia. Joan was born on January 22, 1920 in Madison, Wisconsin. Her family moved for a few years to Ohio and then to Bloomington, Indiana in 1929 where she graduated from Bloomington High School in 1935. She also studied piano under the famed Ernst Hofzimmer and frequently gave solo recitals. After attending Indiana University for one year, she was accepted to The Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris, France as a piano student of Victor Staub. While there, she met her future husband, Charles Richard Clark (from Missouri), who was a postgraduate student in Physics at the University of Paris. Due to the impending outbreak of World War II, she returned to Indiana where she and Charles were married in October, 1939. Charles inspired Joan to become a scientist. They settled in Philadelphia, where their only child, Dennis, died tragically of SIDS in infancy. They then moved to New York, where Charles was a scientist with the Manhattan Project (first atomic bomb) during the War. Joan graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College in 1943 with a degree in Mathematics. After World War II, they moved to Washington D.C. where Joan worked briefly for the Brown Instruments division of Minneapolis-Honeywell and the Cancer Research Center. She continued her postgraduate education at Johns Hopkins University and received her Ph.D. in Geochemistry in 1958. Joan was employed by the United States Geological Survey as a crystallographer for over 25 years in both Washington D.C. and Menlo Park, California. She authored or co-authored over 40 scientific papers, and participated in cutting-edge scientific research that had widespread implications. For example, she was among the first scientists to successfully use mathematical modeling techniques that are now used in the study of advanced biochemistry and genetics to comprehend the structures of proteins. Shortly after her husband??(TM)s early death in 1960, she was awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research for one year at the University of Sydney in Australia. She made many lifelong friends in Australia whom she visited many times during the ensuing years. She was among the first scientists to examine the moon rocks brought back by Apollo 11 in 1969. Joan attained many professional honors and was widely recognized as a distinguished scholar in her field. She received a Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1976 and retired in 1980. Upon retirement, she enjoyed many activities ranging from classical music, opera, and playing the piano, to roses, gardening, walking her dogs, traveling, hosting visitors, and corresponding with her many friends. She was president of her local homeowner??(TM)s association, and president of the Peninsula Rose Society in northern California. She was an avid supporter of many organizations and charities, educational research organizations, the Animal Humane Society, and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Her many travels took her to almost every continent on the globe. She moved to Minnesota to be closer to family in 2001. Her struggle with Alzheimer??(TM)s disease began soon after her move. Her family trusts that God has used the difficult pilgrimage she endured near the end to bring Joan to His grace and glory through Jesus Christ. ?So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.? 2 Cor. 4:18. The family would also like to express our deep and enduring gratitude to the loving and caring staff of Freedom Pointe in Minnetonka, and the wonderful nursing staff at Methodist Hospital for all the assistance and care they provided. A memorial service will be held at Cross View Lutheran Church, 6645 McCauley Trail, Edina, MN at 11:00AM, Saturday, June 9, 2007. Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Memorials preferred to the Alzheimer??(TM)s Association.