Passing of Josephine Mills, DSI Founder

It is with great sorrow that DSI reports the death of Josephine Mills. Jo died peacefully at her home in Vancouver, Canada on May 18th, 2008. Jo has had a long battle with cancer but soldiered on as President of DSI until March this year.

Over the last thirty years, Jo has played a leading role in assisting families to start local and national parent groups. As a concerned professional, she served as the founding chair of both the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), and Down Syndrome International (DSRF). Jo served as the Executive Director of the DSRF until her retirement from the position in 2006.

Jo has been honoured with a 2001 Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award from Simon Fraser University, and a service award from Down Syndrome International in 1999. She was inducted into the Who's Who of Canadian Women, was nominated for a 1999 YWCA Women of Distinction Award, and was awarded the Governor General's Meritorious Service Medal in April, 2006.

As one of the four founding members of DSI and the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation her energy and drive will be sorely missed by our members.