Jo Van Blarcom

Josephine Van Blarcom of The Villages, Florida passed away peacefully on Monday morning at the age of 88, surrounded by her husband Gerald Van Blarcom and her children Christine Cirker of New York City and Michael Wantuck of Ft. Lauderdale.

Josephine (or “Jo” as she preferred) was born in New Bern, North Carolina to Marguerite and Samuel Sissine. Raised in Miami, Jo graduated from Edison High School where she was voted “The Wittiest” in her Senior Class. The first of her family to receive a college degree, she graduated with a B.A. in Education from the University of Florida at Gainesville. Following graduation, Jo married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Wantuck, with whom she had her two children, Christine and Michael. 

As Mrs. Wantuck, she honed her teaching skills in Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools before spending most of her years at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Miami Shores. From 1976-1986 she focused on family in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. 

Following a divorce, Jo returned to South Florida. She was a Diving Mom and an ISHOF Hall of Fame Dame, actively supporting the local aquatic sports community. As a member of the Ft. Lauderdale Power Squadron, she met and fell in love with Gerald Van Blarcom. They married in 1992, residing in Marine Tower for more than 20 years, and ultimately working together as a real estate team.

Jo and Gerry retired to The Villages in 2015. 

In addition to her husband and her two children, Josephine is survived by her son-in-law, Jason Cirker, and her grandchildren, Marlon and Mia, her sister-in-law, Norma Sissine Gambia, her younger brother Michael Sissine and his wife, and many beloved nieces and nephews. 

In the classroom, she was revered for her creativity, humor, and her innovations to reach the most challenging students. Among family and friends, Jo is remembered for her effervescent spirit, her unparallelled Italian cuisine, and her boundless adoration for Barbara Streisand. She was our “Funny Girl” and we love her so.