THE JOY FAMILY
MARION ROMBAUER BECKER
1903 - 19761931-1975 editions
artist, co-author, gardener, environmentalist
Besides her monumental work throughout the years on JOY, Marion realized other significant accomplishments during her lifetime. Using her art education, she worked as an art teacher and later at Women's Wear Daily. She was one of the founders of Cincinnati's Modern Art Society, and served as their first professional director. She was a pioneer in natural gardening. Her woodland garden at the family estate in Cincinnati is now 60 years old, and was chronicled in her book, Wild Wealth. She received the "Oak Leaf" award from the Nature Conservancy. Marion was the recipient of the prestigious Medal of Merit award from the Garden Club of America. Marion was the first woman to receive the "Great Living Cincinnatian" award. After her death in 1976, a hardy, dense Boxwood strain that she had been growing at Cockaigne was given the official designation of Buxus sempervirens Joy-evergreen boxwood Joy.