Dr. John Joyner, second right seated, with his wife Yasuko, retired educator Ambrose Bennett, second right back row, and other local residents celebrate Juneteenth in 2022 at the Civic Center beach in Susupe.
FORMER Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is saddened by the passing of Dr. John B. Joyner on July 18 at his residence in Kagman.
In an interview, Fitial said it was “very sad news to me — he was a key official in my administration, and he did a lot of good things.”
Joyner served as Fitial’s Coastal Resources Management director and senior policy advisor.
“He always reminded me to do what is right,” Fitial said. “I will really miss him.”
Fitial would like to express his condolences to Joyner’s wife Yasuko, and children Jian, Jehn, Breshaun-Birene, Jawn and Jon.
Retired educator Ambrose M. Bennett, in a separate interview, said Joyner touched the lives of many people in the CNMI.
Bennett said he will always remember Joyner as an activist for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People who participated in the civil rights movement in the U.S.
Joyner also served as public information officer and head of the CNMI Division of Immigration during the administration of Gov. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero.
Joyner was an associate dean, assistant professor, and professor at Indiana University; a visiting instructor at University of Southern California and Columbia College; an associate professor at Howard University; and an adjunct professor at Northern Marianas College.
At the time of his death, Joyner was the principal of Northern Marianas International School.
In a message posted on its Facebook page, NMIS stated: “Dr. John B. Joyner was deeply devoted to the personal growth and well-being of his students. He believed in cultivating empathy, compassion, and a sense of social responsibility. Driven by a genuine desire to see every student succeed, he tirelessly invested time and effort in understanding their unique needs and aspirations, leaving an indelible impact on their lives.”
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 9 a.m. at the Saipan Community Church.
