Joan Allison

Joan Allison-Pearl, 84, of Cocoa Beach, passed away on May 2, 2014. She was born in Buffalo, New York on November 4, 1929, to Norman Dorsch and Elizabeth Walsh Dorsch. After high school, she worked for Bell Aircraft in security, tending the vault that contained secret drawings and documents. At Bell Aircraft, she met an engineer, John Allison. Two years after they married, in 1953, they moved to Brevard County. Having grown up in a large city, relocating to rural central Florida was a significant change. She quickly adapted and enjoyed the community of a small town and the beauty of the pristine natural environment. In 1955, Joan and John started a small beach rental business in what is now within the city limits of Cocoa Beach. The couple rented umbrellas, chairs and rafts to the visiting public so that they could enjoy the sand and waters of Cocoa Beach. Joan was a dedicated businesswoman with high standards, but also fun loving joining in after hours riding the waves with her employees. She was honored with a Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners on August 13, 2002 for her dedication to serving the visiting public and enhancing the tourist industry in Brevard County. Many visitors have thanked her for making their day at the beach. She enjoyed greeting people from all over the world and making their stay in Cocoa Beach enjoyable. Joan met many astronautsE� families and other well known personalities over the course of her many years working on the beach. She especially enjoyed meeting Walter Cronkite and being interviewed about witnessing the growth of the space program and all the changes that accompanied it. She always had a great vantage point on the beach to view launches and would help visitors get the best view by pointing them in the right direction. At first, she worked seasonally on the beach during the 1950E�s and 1960E�s. During the fall and winter, Joan worked for Spencers for Ladies in the White Rose Shopping Center and later, Henry Harms Fashions in the Baliwick Mall, both in Cocoa Beach. She got great satisfaction from helping women dress their best. Central Florida continued to grow and Joan in turn kept her business operating year round after Disney World opened. The business she and her husband pioneered, 61 years ago, is still operated today by their daughter. Joan married William Pearl after her first husband, John, passed away. In Bill, Joan found happiness and a loving companionship. In BillE�s declining years, Joan was a dedicated caregiver. Hard working, generous, sophisticated, dignified, an over all beautiful lady, are phrases people use to describe Joan. A classy lady, Joan took great care to always look her best. How she presented herself to the outside world was important to her. She was kind and helpful and had a soft spot for animals and people who were in need. She possessed a kind heart and listening ear. Throughout her life, her loyalty and support to family and friends never waived. Joan is survived by her daughter Adrianne Allison Dillon, her granddaughter, Danielle Dillon Munkelt and her spouse Jeremy Munkelt, her sister Noreen Dorsch Potter and her spouse Frank Potter, her nephews Norman Pionessa and Marshall Potter and her niecesJackilynSisung, Marilyn Potter, Carolyn Bullard and Elizabeth Sutor. A Funeral Mass will be held at Our SaviourE�s Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:30 am. Contributions may be made in her honor to the Central Brevard Humane Society or Brevard Rescue Mission.