Joan K. Ziemba, director of corporate and community relations at The George Washington University Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn since 2003, died after a long battle with ovarian cancer May 17. She was 65.

“Joan was truly an amazing colleague to have because Joan pushed everyone to really be creative and thoughtful when we did anything,” said Paula Harper, executive director of program development and management at George Washington University. “Not only was Joan a dreamer, her entire philosophy was, ‘why can’t you do that?’”

Ziemba had ownership over her ideas and kept the purpose of each task in the forefront, Harper said. Six years ago, her infallible drive lead to the creation of the Science Technology and Engineering Day at GWU after she saw underutilized research laboratories, springing on the opportunity for Loudoun high school students to participate in workshops illustrating different areas of academic study at the university. Her diligent work ethic was met with what Harper described as “a very quiet side of her spirit. She was very cognizant of what was going on in a person’s personal life and quietly made sure that everyone was remembered and cared for.”

Ziemba will be remembered as a pillar within the Loudoun County community. She served as an ambassador for the university on numerous nonprofit initiatives in Northern Virginia including partnerships with the Loudoun Small Business Development Center, the Northern Virginia Community Foundation and Loudoun Interfaith Relief, among others. She also pitched in with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce’s nonprofit initiative “as a tireless worker who was actively engaged,” said President Tony Howard. She had “a strong heart for the roles that nonprofits play in creating a better community in Loudoun.”

“One thing I’ll miss is she was absolutely somebody that had the very best attitude, a customer-service oriented attitude toward any request.” Howard said.

Georgia Graves, president of Bridgman Communications, served alongside Ziemba on the Economic Development Commission before forming the Loudoun CEO Cabinet. Graves regularly worked with Ziemba to brainstorm ideas to promote the success of Loudoun in the area of economic development and recalled Ziemba as a private, but upbeat person who had generosity and kindness in her heart. She said Ziemba also had a great appreciation for art, which was demonstrated in various art exhibits at GWU.

Before joining George Washington University, Ziemba became the first public information officer in Chesapeake, Va., in the 1970s. She also served as the director of publications and special projects for George Mason University from 1990 to 1998. While at George Mason, she combined her compassion with her love of animals by founding of the George Mason Cat Coalition in 1994. The university had a staggering number of homeless cats left by former students, but Ziemba worked to drop the number from 300 cats to just three living on campus. She also carried out the initiative at George Washington as well as spending her weekends rescuing, neutering or feeding cats.

Ziemba’s interests always ran the gamut, according to her niece, Diana Kipp, who said Ziemba’s hobbies included tap dancing and horseback riding as a teenager.

Kipp said Ziemba treated her more as a little sister than a niece, letting her hang around with her and all of her girlfriends when they were living in Hudson, N.Y., where Ziemba was born and raised.

“Her favorite thing to do with me was to take me to our old cinema, a quiet, community theater where we would go to Saturday weekend matinees,” she said.

Ziemba was a blend of the best attributes of both her parents; her father was a war veteran who loved gardening, politics and good conversation and her mother was a wide and varied woman who was also kind and sweet. This blend of personality perhaps also led Ziemba to be a trailblazer; she was the first of her family to attend college when she enrolled at State University of New York – New Paltz.

After graduation, she “got on a bus one day and said she was taking on the big city,” Kipp said. She certainly conquered the Big Apple, spending several years editing, copy writing and even dabbling in modeling. She was passionate about education and all forms of media and marketing, Kipp said.

Kipp, who spent the last few months of Ziemba’s life residing with her in her home in Fairfax County, said she hopes “Joanie” will be remembered by how brilliant, energetic and forthright she was with her beliefs, and how she stayed true to them.

Ziemba is survived by her brother-in-law James Naegeli; her nice Diana (Peter) Kipp and nephew Michael (Melissa) Naegeli. She was great aunt of Jason Kipp, Alex Kipp, Stephen Naegeli, Daniel Naegeli and Andrew Naegeli. She was predeceased by her father and mother John and Francis Ziemba and her sister, Barbara Naegeli.

A gathering was held May 21 at Money and King Funeral Home in Vienna. A memorial service for friends and family will be held at Bates and Anderson Funeral Home June 9 in Hudson, N.Y. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Alliance.