Remembering Palisadian Joan Sather

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

Community members are mourning the loss of Joan Sather, a longtime Palisadian and realtor at Sotheby’s, who passed away on Sunday, March 13.

Joan was born in Annapolis, Maryland—the daughter of a Naval officer, she traveled about the United States, living in San Diego, Maryland, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and abroad in France for three years. After attending several different schools in her youth, Sather graduated from UC Berkeley. She moved to Brentwood after meeting her husband, Kent Sather, in San Francisco. They eventually settled in Pacific Palisades, where they remained married for 58 years as parents to their two children, Kelly and Peter.

“Joan was attractive to the end. We got married in Palo Alto in a Presbyterian church,” Kent shared with the Palisadian-Post. “We ended up moving to the Palisades at the time as it was more affordable than Cheviot Hills. She was always involved in the community and she liked new challenges. She was captain of the bocce team [Son of a Bocce] here in the Palisades.

“She was always focused and a lot of fun to be with. We used to travel everywhere and before we had anything, we would camp together in Paris, in a small tent. It would rain like hell and we had a camping neighbor that introduced us to how good sweet tea tasted during the pouring rain. We always had the best time together.”

A top and beloved real estate agent at Sotheby’s, Joan’s 20-year colleague and long-time friend, Susan Montgomery spoke lovingly of her as a person who always brought people together.

“She traveled the world often with great enthusiasm, loved her family and pets, her decades long career in finding folks their forever homes, and our community with all her heart,” Montgomery said to the Post. “Always up for a challenge, Joan volunteered for many local events, including spearheading our annual Home Decorating Contest for the 4th of July. I was thrilled to partner with her for this festive occasion for several years.

“The PAPA committee and I will feel her absence in perpetuity and will honor her contributions going forward. She was such a bright spark in this world and touched the lives of so many.”

Describing Kent and Joan as an “adventure couple,” Montgomery said the pair was always traveling. She recollected their trip to Iceland to see the northern lights, and a special cruise to see an eclipse during the 4th of July, the time they cycled through the South of France, or most recently when they went to the Arc De Triomphe.

Wherever they went in the world, “they were always happy together.”

Daphne Gronich, who worked alongside Joan for 10 years, fondly recalled the work she did with her husband in the community.

“In addition to being a long-time sponsor of PAPA’s … home decorating contest, Joan and her husband Kent have also been part of PAPA’s core of … volunteers for many years,” Gronich said. “Her enthusiasm and community spirit will be greatly missed by us all, and I will miss her personally. We all need more community members like her.”

A pillar in the community, Kent shared that his wife was active at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. She would host dinners, and get other community members involved in revolving dinner events at each other’s homes, with the purpose of creating unity amongst neighbors.

Rob Weber, a longtime member of the parade committee, recalled how much life Sather brought to 4th of July planning.

“She was always super excited and motivated,” Weber said. “The greatest thing of all for Joan was seeing the joy on people’s faces when they won … And it was always fun to watch her reactions to people’s happiness. She was a lovely person who was really committed to the Palisades and she’s going to be missed.”

Sather is survived by her husband Kent, her two children Kelly and Pete, and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in June.