Joan Trial

Argyle Twp - Joan Trial, wife of Henry Trial, passed away unexpectedly on March 5, 2023, after a short battle with lung cancer. She was born January 5, 1952, in Fremont, Ohio, the only daughter of the late Murray and Mary M. (Meikle) Garner.

Joan graduated from Avon Grove High School, West Grove, Pennsylvania in 1969, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and played women's basketball. Joan earned her BS, MS, and PhD at the University of Maine. Joan was a big part of the Atlantic Salmon Community having been involved in some form or other since she was in graduate school. She earned her PhD in 1989, her research focused on development of habitat suitability models for Atlantic Salmon and Blacknose Dace.

Joan was the first female fisheries biologist hired by ME IFW. During her work she held positions from teaching to research with state and federal agencies and academic units. Joan collaborated with many people during her time with the state focusing on not just Atlantic Salmon but also studying River herring interactions, assessment of stream forage species, and other fishery topics often related to habitat function and assessment. In 2000, Joan was promoted into the Senior Biologist position with the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission which later became the Bureau of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat within the Maine Department of Marine Resources. In this capacity, Joan supervised the assessment, research, and management activities surrounding endangered populations of Atlantic salmon managed by ME-DMR. In her role she represented Maine nationally on the U.S. Atlantic salmon Assessment committee and internationally on the ICES Working Group on Atlantic salmon and the International Joint Commission, St, Croix River Board. Joan also held an appointment to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Maine.

Joan was an active member of the American Fisheries Society holding several positions in both the Atlantic International Chapter and the Northeast Division. She served the AIC as Vice-president and President 1986-1988. Joan was President of the NED in 2002. In 2012 Joan was awarded the Dwight A. Webster Memorial award for lifelong contributions to fisheries science and the profession in the Northeast. She retired from the Maine Department of Marine Resources in July 2013.

Joan was an avid upland hunter and spent most of October with her husband Henry chasing woodcock and ruffed grouse with their beloved dogs. Joan and Henry were also very active at the Hermon Skeet Club holding many leadership roles for many years and worked tirelessly to help the club grow and thrive. Joan also held a State Sporting Clays Championship Title. At the Hermon Skeet Club, Joan's teaching skills shined bright, having taught many youth and adults shotgun safety and the enjoyment of the shotgun sports. Joan especially enjoyed teaching the University Of Maine and Unity College students. She was instrumental in forming the University of Maine Skeet and Trap Club. Joan was a longtime hockey player, playing in recreational leagues.
A colleague and good friend described Joan perfectly in this quote; "In Joan I found a remarkable person who enjoyed a good laugh, didn't suffer fools, and would do anything for you. All you had to do was try."
Joan is survived by her husband, Henry of 52 years; brother, Milton Garner and his wife, Sharon; and niece, Michelle Garner all of Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by a brother, Richard Carl Garner in 2022.

A celebration of Joan's life will be held 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Hermon Skeet Club, 20 Skeet Club Lane, Hermon. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.