Jo Siegel’s journey with Oasis began in the 1990s when our center was located at Lord & Taylor in Friendship Heights. Alongside her husband Mel, Jo became an integral part of our community, immersing herself in classes and volunteering her time and talents. Mel played a key role on the program committee, helping to recruit speakers, while Jo contributed her energy and enthusiasm as a front desk volunteer.

For three decades, Jo has been a cornerstone of Oasis, delivering exceptional customer service and assisting with a myriad of administrative tasks essential for our smooth operation. Despite occasional breaks for world travel and other life events, Jo’s dedication to our mission has been unwavering. Her can-do attitude and eagerness to embrace new challenges have continually inspired us all.

In true Jo fashion, she gave ample notice of her impending retirement. During her final shift last week, she continued her dedicated work, handling class registrations and fielding phone calls with her usual grace. When we finally convinced her to take a break, the Oasis staff and fellow front desk volunteers celebrated with a heartfelt lunch, sharing stories of her invaluable contributions over the years.

Jo Siegel, congratulations on your 30 remarkable years of service to Oasis! We are thrilled that you will be joining us for several Oasis classes this fall, allowing us to say “hasta la vista” instead of goodbye. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our community!