Joan C. Scandurra

May 31, 1932 ~ January 16, 2024

Newburgh, NY

Joan entered into rest on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 with her family by her side. The daughter of the late Louis and Irene (Walsh) Hernandez, she was born on May 31, 1932 in New York, NY.

Joan Scandurra Started the Toon-Powers School of Ballet in1963 in Newburgh, NY with Lee Toon and Regis Powers as her partners, where she was the administrator of the school. Upon Lee Toon's death in 1966, she and Regis Powers opened Powers Dance Art Center. It was then that the Nutcracker was choreographed and danced every Christmas time to the delight of sold out audiences in the area. Along with the school, The Orange County Ballet Company was started as a regional ballet company. She had a very active role as the coordinator and Board member. She had an enormous amount of passion for the school and the company. Her presence was very respected. Regis Powers and Merritt Thompson, who were also teachers at the school, were extremely dependent on her.

The only thing that she loved more than dancing was her family. Family gatherings meant so much to her. She had tremendous love for cooking for her family and making sure everyone was happy. She was so excited that her family was so large and so often expressed how happy she was to have such a large and wonderful family, especially because growing up she was an only child.

Her husband was Joseph Scandurra with whom she had 4 children. Joseph passed away in 1980. She is survived by her partner of over 30 years, Gerald Kowal, her children Catherine Gould, Laurie Hurt, Bonnie Scandurra and John Scandurra. Her grandchildren; George Ludlow, Bobby Ludlow, Jeffrey and Lisa Ludlow, Michael and Aimee Ludlow, Brian and Julie Ludlow, Oliver Hurt. Joe Crone, Autumn Scandurra, John Scandurra, Ryan and Irma Scandurra, and Eric Scandurra along with her great-grandchildren; Heather Ludlow, Jeremy Ludlow, Anya Ludlow, Ethan Ludlow, Joey Crone and Austin Scandurra.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 19 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A service for Joan will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 20 at the funeral home, with burial following in Calvary Cemetery, New Windsor.