On February 6th, 2024 Joyce Marie (Rosemark, Swannack) Gibbs - completed this life’s journey with no regrets at age 82. She was born to Jack and Pat Rosemark in San Francisco, June 1st, 1941. She leaves behind her sister Carole Farrell, brother William Rosemark (Jessica), nieces Jill Farrell (Paul McCandless), Jenni Farrell (David Marsyla), and Tracy Rosemark, and their families. Cousins and extended family live in the US and Denmark. She was married and divorced twice and found happiness living freely and independently.

Joyce (a.k.a. Skip) went to Aptos Jr. High School and Lincoln High School in San Francisco in the 50’s. She received her BA in Elementary Education from San Francisco State. She was an elementary teacher for 36 years in California, 3 years in Oregon, and 3 years in Idaho for a total of 42 years! She retired from her life’s work at Harrington Elementary School (3rd grade) in Oxnard, California on July 27, 2005. She truly made a difference in the lives of all her students as she poured out her love of teaching with her energy and enthusiasm.

In the 1970’s Joyce became an avid long-distance runner, running under the name “Skip Swannack.” In May 1970, she was only the 2nd woman to win the San Francisco Bay to Breakers with a time of 58:08. Eight years later in 1978, she came back to win it again with a time of 47:02.

In 1979, she was on the cover of Women’s Sports magazine and was well on her way to becoming a local running celebrity. She was a sub-three-hour marathoner (26.2 miles), and between 1970 and 1982 she competed in approximately 30 marathons including Boston and New York, and won the Pike’s Peak Marathon. But marathons weren’t enough for Joyce and she turned her attention to the Western States 100 Mile Ultramarathon, a grueling race that starts in Olympic Valley California (Palisades Ski Resort) near Tahoe and ends in Auburn. She became the second ever female winner of the event, and more impressively, she was the first woman to finish this overnight race in under 24 hours. She even competed in a 100 mile race running 400 times around a track at the Woodside High School in Woodside California, and finished in 26 hours. She was an inspiration to her nieces (and grand nieces) who have followed in her footsteps and become competitive distance runners.

Joyce had many wonderful, active travel experiences that included summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mt. Fuji in Japan. In addition, she went on an expedition to see brown bears at the McNeill River in Alaska, an excursion to see the tortoises in the Galapagos, and an excursion to Antarctica to see penguins. In 2010, at age 69, she and her brother climbed to the top of Mount Whitney.

After she retired, Joyce became involved in the activities of Camarillo Hospice as well as enjoyed getaways with the Cambria Girls and gatherings with the Sonnetts. She joined the Ventura Bachelors & Bachelorettes Square Dance Club for regular nights of line dancing. In addition, she enjoyed all the friendships she made as she traveled on many trips in her 19 ft. Road Trek with her good friends in their Road Trek Club.

Joyce loved animals and cared for all manner of creatures. In her van she traveled with her dogs, cat, parrot, and tortoise. Joyce’s mules were very important to her and boarding them at the Oso Ranch, Ojai, enriched her life. Her favorite mule was Cadillac Jack who had retired from life as an actor in Hollywood films. In 2017, her love of mules inspired her to go on a Grand Canyon mule ride adventure in her 70’s! Joyce also became deeply involved in Condor conservation, volunteering at the Friends of California Condors organization.

Joyce wanted to be remembered for her love of animals, her love of the natural world, her independent and adventurous spirit, her giving nature, and her “dare to be different” attitude. She liked to say, “Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.”

After Joyce’s stroke in 2017, the Ojai Continuing Care Center Staff provided her with support, activities, and care - including through the pandemic - that her family greatly appreciated.  Her friends are invited to a memorial Saturday, March 16th, 3-5 pm at 607 Country Club Dr in Ojai, California. Please let us know you are coming by visiting her memorial website and RSVPing to the event. https://everloved.com/life-of…

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