Site Search

When Donald Senna recalls meeting his future wife, Joan, at a track meet in 1958, his eyes still light up. "She got me with her smile," he says, remembering the pretty lady in blue shorts and a straw hat who would become his wife of 62 years. "The stars must have aligned that day." 

That chance meeting – where Joan helped pin Don's number to his jersey – began a love story that would span six decades and eventually create opportunities for generations of students at East Providence High School.

Joan "Joanie" Senna's own educational journey exemplified her grit and determination. A 1959 graduate of East Providence High School, she worked while attending Johnson & Wales University, paying her tuition weekly to earn a secretarial degree, with a dream of someday furthering her education to become a teacher.

Joan went on to work at Textron, where she was named Employee of the Year, while supporting her husband Don through his studies at Bryant University. "If it wasn't for her, I'd still be a freshman," Don reflects. "I would write my papers, and she would proofread and type them."

Throughout her life, Joan was known for her selfless giving, the one who made all the sacrifices. She volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the East Providence Senior Center. Her son-in-law, Reverend Clarence Hill, Jr., called Joan his "mom-in-love" rather than "mom-in-law," noting that she was "the repository of all kinds of information – there was no situation that she couldn’t help with."

The Joan M. Senna Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation now carries forward Joan's legacy of compassionate care for others. The scholarship supports East Providence High School students accepted to Johnson & Wales University, with a preference for African American, Native American, and students of color - opening doors to education that for so many remain closed.

Don's deep respect for the Foundation’s leadership led him to explore creating the fund. After meeting with the Development team, he knew he had found the right partner to honor Joan's memory. "I was impressed with the level of professionalism," Don shares.

The partnership has already begun making an impact, as Joan's children, Lori and Donald Jr., recently presented the first scholarship award. It's a fitting tribute to their mother, a woman whose legacy of giving will now help students achieve their educational dreams.