Joan Lasersohn | Obit

Joan Carole Lasersohn

April 15, 1934 – April 14, 2026

Joan Carole Lasersohn, devoted wife and mother, and 63-year resident of Mercer Island, Washington died after a brief illness on April 14, 2026, one day shy of her 92nd birthday.

Joan or “Joanie,” as her friends would call her, was born on April 15, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the only child of Ralph and Eleanor Budig. After graduating high school, she attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where she met and fell in love with the class president, the future Dr. Jack Lasersohn.

Joan studied Fine Arts at Wash. U. and would leave school after a few years to follow Jack to medical school in Chicago and start a family. She was talented as a figure and sketch artist and worked in the art department for a few years at Ruthrauff and Ryan, an advertising agency in Chicago. She compared her experience there to the TV series, Mad Men.

Joan and Jack married in 1955 in Chicago and moved to Mercer Island in 1963. They would be married 37 years until Jack’s unexpected passing in 1993 at age 60. After Jack’s passing, Joan would be fortunate to meet Denny Talaga, who would become her partner of 10 years until his death. We are sure Jack and Denny would have become great friends had they known one another.

Joan was an athlete and competitive swimmer in her youth and became a ranked, competitive tennis player, playing at Mercer Island Country Club, Mercer Island Beach Club and Bellevue Club. For over two decades, she spent her winters in La Quinta, California where she played tennis and golf at Rancho La Quinta Golf and Country Club. She played singles tennis until age 80.

Joan also enjoyed skiing, pickleball, bocci ball, whale watching, boating, fishing and jet skiing on Lake Washington. She was dedicated to her wellness and fitness and stayed active her entire life. She was a well-known entity at the country club fitness room and gym. She also played pickleball just months ago. Truly amazing.

Joanie was a great cook. She collected recipes from Sunset Magazine into two big binders in her family room. She made many dinners from scratch, with lots of vegetables. She always joked about how Jack insisted on having salads, even if the meal already had a warm veggie side dish. She worked hard leading her four children as a crew in cleaning the house and maintaining the yard. She gave them a thousand rides to swim meets, soccer, baseball and basketball games, gymnastics meets, music lessons, doctor and dentist appointments. She wasn’t afraid of hard work and that rubbed off on all of us.

Joan had a love of nature and wildlife starting from a young age. She was a self-proclaimed tomboy. She was always enamored by the wildlife that graced her Mercer Island waterfront home on Lake Washington. Eagles, great blue herons, Canadian geese, deer, otters and squirrels were regular guests at her famous happy hour on the deck which delighted her to no end. She loved telling stories of her many unusual encounters with wildlife over the years.

Joan was an avid birder and had many books to help her correctly identify her flying friends. She could easily identify just about any winged creature passing by.

Joan also had a life-long love for horses. She shared this love with her children and some of the family’s happiest moments were on horseback on the beach at the Oregon coast.

Most of all, Joan cherished her many Irish setters from her childhood throughout the years on Mercer Island. Joan passed on her love of these wonderful companions and wildlife to her four children. There would be many cats, dogs and other pets to come in the Lasersohn household.

Joan’s artistic eye was reflected in everything she touched including interior design, clothing, art and sculpture. Joan was a patron of the arts. She especially loved the ballet and symphony and supported the Seattle Art Museum and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Joan also had been a volunteer caregiver at Beacon House, an AIDS hospice in Seattle and a volunteer fundraiser for Ryther Children’s Home in Seattle.

Joan is survived by her four children, all Mercer Island High School graduates: Jill Lasersohn of Tacoma, Washington; Jeffrey Lasersohn of Tigard, Oregon, John Lasersohn of Cambria, California and James Lasersohn of Seattle.

The family suggests memorials to the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle, Washington.

Please join us to celebrate Joan Carole Lasersohn

Monday May 18, 2026 1:00 – 4:00 PM

@ Mercer Island Community & Event Center, Mercer Room

8236 SE 24th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040

No RSVP needed; food and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.