Obituary: Joan Bregman
She had two careers as a nurse and helped make the Braves feel at home in Atlanta.
Joan Martyn Bregman peacefully passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, in Atlanta, surrounded by her loving daughters.
Joan was born Nov. 23, 1929, to W.C. Martyn and Maude Martyn in Detroit. Joan graduated from Cass Technical High School and attended Grace Nursing School. While working at Children’s Hospital in Detroit, she met and fell in love with Dr. Larry Bregman. Shortly afterward, Joan and Larry got married, moved to Atlanta and began their family.
Among Joan’s many joys was working with the Atlanta Braves organization. When the Milwaukee Braves came to Atlanta, Joan jumped on the opportunity to serve as the president of the Braves 400 Fan Club. She managed the official festivities for Atlanta’s first All-Star Game, Gameboree and spring training trips. Joan was a dedicated and loving stay-at-home mother until her youngest daughter began high school. Shortly afterward, Joan began the second phase of her nursing career at Georgia Mental Health Institute, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse in the adolescent unit until her retirement. It brought Joan a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction to host/sponsor the annual Thanksgiving Day feast for staff and residents of the hospital.
Joan retired from GMHI so that she could take care of Larry during the final months of his life. Joan’s love for animals and traveling filled her retirement years with much excitement and love. Her dogs, Poo and Angel, and her cat, Kitty, offered her unconditional love and companionship. Devoted nurse companions Danyetta Thomas, Chiffon Hairston, Joan Bell, Nadia Hughes, Mude Saukila and Pamela Bryant were a constant source of love and compassion to Joan during her final years.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Larry Bregman, and her sisters, Jean Montgomery, Peg Hausler and Katie Livermore. Her surviving children are Debbie Bregman, Penny Eisenstein, Tammy Bregman (Robin) and Jody Yanovich (Zev). Her surviving grandchildren are Candace Eisenstein (Matt), Alex Yanovich and Larry Yanovich. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Atlanta Humane Society, DDD Foundation Inc. (Dentistry for the Developmentally Disabled) or the Atlanta Jewish Academy Booster Club. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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