Make a difference today! Support Blessed Sacrament faculty in honor of Joyce Baldi
Jeff Baldi and Erich Struckmeyer approached the Morton Community Foundation with a heartfelt idea to establish an endowment fund that would honor the remarkable contributions of their wife and mother, Joyce Baldi. Joyce had been married and was blessed with two children when her marriage began to stru, ultimately leading to separation and, unfortunately, divorce. In search of a fresh start and a better life for her family, she moved to Morton with her son and daughter. Although she was trained professionally as a radiology technologist, Joyce had made the difficult decision to pause her career and dedicate her time to raising her children. Now, as a devoted single mother, she returned to work in her field, yet found that her income was insufficient to fully support her family on her own.
In her quest for community and belonging, Joyce became actively involved with Blessed Sacrament Church, where she formed a meaningful connection with Father Finnell. Recognizing her unwavering commitment to providing a quality education for her children at Blessed Sacrament School, Father Finnell ensured that the church would cover their tuition costs, alleviating some of the financial burden she faced. Through her participation in a Cursillo, Joyce made a particular connection that eventually led to an unexpected date with the man who would become her loving husband, Jeff Baldi. Together, they have now enjoyed a joyful marriage for over 32 wonderful years.
In the year 2024, Jeff Baldi, now a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, felt a profound desire to honor Joyce for her years of dedicated service supporting military families, as well as her committed volunteer work at the Family Readiness Center. Meanwhile, Erich Struckmeyer, Joyce's son, sought to express his heartfelt gratitude for her strength, resilience, and determination as a single mother during their formative years in Morton. This endowment fund will provide an annual grant to Blessed Sacrament School, to be distributed as a bonus for each member of the outstanding classroom teaching staff—an act of recognition for the unwavering support that Joyce and her children, Erich and Kari, received many years ago.