JoAnn B. Orr

JoAnn Burke Orr, celebrated community altruist and daughter to former U.S. Senator and Mayor of Cleveland Thomas A. Burke, peacefully passed away on August 3, 2026 at the age of 101. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 27, 1925, to then Mayor Burke and his wife Josephine Lyon, JoAnn grew up embracing the arts, literature, and the benefits of education. She attended high school at Notre Dame Academy and college at Trinity College (Washington, DC) and ultimately earned her B.A. from Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University in 1947.

JoAnn married the love of her life Stanley L. Orr, Jr. on June 25, 1947, in front of nearly 700 guests in Cleveland, embarking upon a nearly 68-year marriage that was full of love, family, laughter, and adventure. The couple would live with their four children (Barbara, Stanley Orr III, Althea and Thomas) largely in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent many happy summers boating, camping, and waterskiing on the shores of Lake Erie. The family boat was aptly named the 6 OARS since their name was Orr.

JoAnn, a devout Catholic, profoundly believed that life should be lived in service to others. She happily volunteered at many hospitals, churches and schools, Scout organizations and PTA boards, and served as a member for several Women’s Symphony Auxiliaries. In addition, she devoted her time to Special Olympics in the State of Kentucky and to Headstart. Her true passion however was as champion for the developmentally disabled. She was pivotal in the establishment and support of group homes for these citizens throughout the 1970’s in Hamilton County, Ohio. Her primary focus was to ensure that those with developmental disabilities could live in homes that were designed with warmth, community, and function and would avoid the stark institutional feel of past establishments. In 1975 she was recognized as one of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year.

Once Stanley retired from U.S. Steel the then empty nesters sold their home and most of their worldly possessions to live aboard a 42- foot Grand Banks trawler they named the Steelaway, a nod to Stanley’s 30- year career. Thus began a nearly three-year epic journey that would take them along the Eastern seaboard of the United States as well as to ports in the Bahamas. JoAnn highlighted the many trials and tribulations of life as “live aboards” in her memoir Sea Fantasy, which she published in 2013 at the age of 88. Although the couple eventually sold the Steelaway to return to Cleveland, their love for travel and adventure continued as they would ultimately explore the Lower 48 contiguous states and parts of Canada in their RV. Eventually they settled happily into the “snowbird” life and would spend winters amongst friends in Brownsville, Texas, whilst calling Cleveland home for the remainder and more seasonable parts of the year.

JoAnn had an irrepressible affection for life. She filled her later days with family and friends and was always eager to learn new things—even hip hop dancing at age 90. She is survived by her children; Barbara Orr Chema, Althea Orr, Thomas Orr, Cynthia Hartman Orr, and 6 grandchildren; Christine Chema Beall (Thomas), Stephen Chema (Robin), Jennifer Orr (Alexis), Justin Northage-Orr (Venessa), Ari Northage-Orr (Amelia) and Joanna Northage-Orr, as well as 7 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Angels, 18205 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 11:00 am with Visitation for family and friends from 10:00-11:00am immediately before the Mass. Burial of urn to follow at Restland Cemetery, Bainbridge Township, OH. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Greater Cleveland Foodbank https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/.