Joan Pickard Leuthner, 73, passed on October 1st, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. Joan was born to Robert and Elizabeth Leuthner, in Cleveland, OH and was always proud to let you know (“Go Tribe!”). Joan attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and pursued a long career as a sports writer, most notably with The Meadville Tribune, The Journal Newspapers, and The Washington Star. After meeting George in Washington, D.C., she settled down to raise her family in Myersville, MD, working as an English Professor at Shepherd College and Frederick Community College.

Joan had many passions that matched her lively personality, including music and arts, piano teaching, volunteering as a docent, political activism fighting for human decency, and was an empathetic lover of all animals, big and small. But nothing was as strong as her love for baseball and the Cleveland Indians. Joan will forever be an angel in the outfield to all her surviving friends and family.

Joan is survived by her husband of over 40 years, George Maerz, her twin children, Emily and Tommy (Sarah), closest friends, and beloved pets, Buddy and Ellie.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at the Welcome Center at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Arrangements entrusted to WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, Scott Twp., 15220. www.slaterfuneral.com