In Memoriam: Joan Gilson

The Valley Hospital Foundation mourns the loss of Joan Gilson, the second-ever employee of The Valley Hospital and a long-time supporter of The Valley Hospital Foundation.

Joan, a Lifetime Benefactor at the Bronze level and a member of Valley’s Legacy Society, was a lifelong advocate for Valley even before the Ridgewood hospital opened its doors. She passed away on September 27, 2026.

Joan was present for the ribbon cutting of The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood in the 1950s, and 70 years later, Joan joined Valley Health System to celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Valley Hospital in Paramus.

A New Jersey native, Joan moved to Ridgewood in 1925 at the age of 3. After graduating from college, she worked for Sears Roebuck & Co. in Chicago, but returned to Ridgewood in 1949 and accepted a position in the volunteer office of a new hospital being built at the corner of Linwood and North Van Dien Avenues – the original Valley Hospital.  

Joan spent 32 years at Valley, supporting the hospital’s first administrator and eventually retiring as the Director of Medical Staff Administration in 1982. Following her retirement, Joan remained an active volunteer and advocate for Valley, honoring the hospital’s history in Ridgewood and celebrating its future.

Joan’s support and advocacy for The Valley Hospital and for the health and wellness of the people in her community was unmatched, and her loss will be deeply felt by all who knew her.

The Valley Hospital Foundation extends our deepest sympathies to Joan’s loved ones as we remember her life and legacy.