Josetta Walsh
1929-Nov. 10, 2006
Menlo Park, California

Josetta Walsh died Nov. 10 in Menlo Park, where she had lived for more than 20 years. She was 77.

Josetta Walsh and Kris Goodrich founded the Child and Family Institute in Menlo Park in 1986. The institute conducts programs that explore the richness of family life and community. Today about 400 families take part in the institute's programs.

Ms. Walsh, whose teaching career spanned 59 years, was born in New York City. As a former member of the Sisters of the Holy Names, she taught primary grades for 20 years. After earning a master's degree in education from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, she founded the Casa Maria Montessori School on the grounds of the Holy Names Convent in Los Gatos.

In 1980 she founded a Child and Family Institute at Santa Clara University to serve alumnae families. During her career, she taught and lectured throughout the United States; she delivered a speech at the first conference on education sponsored by the World Future Society at the University of Houston.

Her final vision was creating the World Peace Village, honoring the common thread of the Golden Rule in each faith. The village is a learning tool that includes six centers representing different faiths: Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Native American, Muslim and Jewish.

Tags: teacher/educator