Joanne L. Fitts

Joanne L. Fitts, 62, of North Kingstown, passed away peacefully at home, Sunday April 17th. She was the wife of Patricia M. Burbank. Born in Patterson, NJ, she was a daughter of Laura (Ferres) Fitts of Schenectady, NY, and the late John C. Fitts. Besides her wife and mother, she is survived by two step children, Ben Burbank of Warwick and Amanda Burbank of West Greenwich; two grandchildren, Calvin and Maizey Ruth; two sisters, Cynthia (Dennis) Merkel of Sault Ste. Marie, MI and Ellen (Tim) Byrne of Portland, ME; as well as several nieces and nephews. Joanne was a cherished life partner and wife; a wonderful step-mom; a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and niece; a loving friend; and an esteemed teacher and coach. She found special joy in being Grandma JoJo to Maizey and Calvin. She was passionate about sports of all kinds and often said that all of life’s important lessons could be taught in sports: teamwork, respect, self-discipline, leadership, perseverance, and how to win and lose gracefully. The goal was to have fun! She always played to the last point, never giving up. She was known for her warm, wonderful bear hugs that she gave often and to many. Joanne was a longtime Physical Education teacher and coach in the North Kingstown School System where she consistently demonstrated her passion for excellence and building positive relationships. Her influence on the North Kingstown Community extended to her elementary school students and families through numerous special events and fundraising activities. As a coach, her boys and girls volleyball teams won 10 State championships and received the prestigious Division 1 title 16 times. Coach Fitts received numerous teaching and coaching honors including 2003 North Kingstown Teacher of the Year, Words Unlimited Coach of the Year, RI Boys Volleyball Coaches' Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and over a dozen RI Volleyball Coaches' Association Coach of the Year awards. Joanne was inducted into the 2005 North Kingstown Athletic Hall of Fame and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2014, Joanne was honored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free Kids and Major League Baseball Charities for her dedication to fair, drug-free play and an overall healthy lifestyle. A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held June 11 at 3 PM at 40 Mill Pond Road, North Kingstown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the “Joanne Fitts Scholarship Fund” for North Kingstown volleyball athletes at Centerville Saving Bank, 234 W. Main Street, North Kingstown, RI 02852 for.