JoAnn Kenton has quite a few colorful stories to tell and she's not done making a few more along the way. She was born in Los Angeles and as a young child, her family spent many weekends playing in the Newport Beach sand.
Growing up, JoAnn had big dreams, one of which was to be a singer. That dream became a reality when she began singing up, down and across the country. She dazzled audiences with songs by her favorite entertainer, Peggy Lee, including "Fever" and "Why Don't You Do Right". She shook hands with Ronald Reagan, dated Frank Sinatra and met Burt Bacharach.
"In 1965, I sang at The Newporter with the Freddy Martin Band and I asked if we could perform a new song called 'The Girl from Ipanema,'" she recalls. "Freddy said sure, make up the charts and we'll do it. The night we performed it, he introduced it as 'The Girl from Pasadena!'"
JoAnn continued her singing career until she married the renowned big band leader and jazz legend, Stan Kenton. When their marriage ended, she decided to study for her real estate license. In 1972, JoAnn began the longest and most satisfying chapter in her life when she settled down in Newport Beach and became one of the most successful realtors in the area.
"Back then, Newport Beach was still a place you visited on the weekend," she said. But things were changing. She saw the real estate market heat up to a steady simmer and then explode into a multi-billion dollar market.
Newport Beach was where JoAnn's heart felt at home and where she became involved in the community and with Hoag. She was a member of the Hoag Auxiliary for seven years and spent most of her time volunteering in the surgery waiting room, coordinating patients and families.
I Love Being Here with You
After many of her close friends were successfully treated at Hoag, JoAnn decided to make a gift to give back to Hoag. As someone who greatly values integrity, service and community, she feels that Hoag's culture exemplifies those traits.
After researching her options, JoAnn contacted Julie Heggeness, executive director of gift planning at Hoag Hospital Foundation, and was pleased with how quickly and efficiently her wishes were handled. She was even more touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of Julie and Joni Ukegawa, Hoag Hospital Foundation's Gift Planning coordinator.
"When I was convalescing, Julie and Joni would walk over to visit me every day," she says. "It was such a joy to see them. I don't have close family, but I consider people like them my real family."
