Joyce Henklein
Key Words: Bronx, World War II, Nursing, Greenwich, CT
Interviewed by Kayt Gochenaur on 06/07/2018 as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Joyce Henklein nee Clifford was born on July 19, 1928 in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Soon after she was born, her parents moved to the suburbs of Greenwich CT. Joyce described an idyllic childhood of playing outside without supervision until the street lights came on at night. This carefree childhood, however was not without knowledge of world events. Joyce remembers her mother running through the house after Pearl Harbor was bombed, and remembers the ban on pleasure driving during gasoline rationing. Despite the news of war, high school was still a wonderful time for Joyce. She was a cheerleader, and involved in the drama department. In high school she began dating Bob Henklein whom she would later marry. In 1945 Bob enlisted in the army, and after Joyce graduated she entered the nursing program at Greenwich hospital. Bob and Joyce were married after he left the army and together they had three children. Joyce left her nursing job to raise her children and it was 11 years before she returned to work. When she did, she worked as a public health nurse where she visited Greenwich schools and local residents. Joyce spoke of the change in Greenwich CT that happened over the years she lived there. What started as a middle-class suburb, grew exponentially and turned into the wealthiest suburb in one of the wealthiest states in the Union. Despite these changes, Joyce continued to live there, even after Bob passed away in 1995. It was in the aftermath of 9/11, when her daughter and son-in-law were looking to move away from the city, that they discovered Saranac Lake, and asked Joyce to move up with them. She said she loves the culture of Saranac Lake, and that there is such a vibrant arts and music community here. They moved to Saranac Lake in 2003, where Joyce bought a townhouse. Joyce enjoys attending the live viewings of the Metropolitan Opera at the LPCA, as well as Pendragon productions.
Interviewed by Kayt Gochenaur on 06/07/2018 as part of the Oral History Project at Will Rogers.
Joyce Henklein nee Clifford was born on July 19, 1928 in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Soon after she was born, her parents moved to the suburbs of Greenwich CT. Joyce described an idyllic childhood of playing outside without supervision until the street lights came on at night. This carefree childhood, however was not without knowledge of world events. Joyce remembers her mother running through the house after Pearl Harbor was bombed, and remembers the ban on pleasure driving during gasoline rationing. Despite the news of war, high school was still a wonderful time for Joyce. She was a cheerleader, and involved in the drama department. In high school she began dating Bob Henklein whom she would later marry. In 1945 Bob enlisted in the army, and after Joyce graduated she entered the nursing program at Greenwich hospital. Bob and Joyce were married after he left the army and together they had three children. Joyce left her nursing job to raise her children and it was 11 years before she returned to work. When she did, she worked as a public health nurse where she visited Greenwich schools and local residents. Joyce spoke of the change in Greenwich CT that happened over the years she lived there. What started as a middle-class suburb, grew exponentially and turned into the wealthiest suburb in one of the wealthiest states in the Union. Despite these changes, Joyce continued to live there, even after Bob passed away in 1995. It was in the aftermath of 9/11, when her daughter and son-in-law were looking to move away from the city, that they discovered Saranac Lake, and asked Joyce to move up with them. She said she loves the culture of Saranac Lake, and that there is such a vibrant arts and music community here. They moved to Saranac Lake in 2003, where Joyce bought a townhouse. Joyce enjoys attending the live viewings of the Metropolitan Opera at the LPCA, as well as Pendragon productions.