Johanna was born on October 16, 1964 in Glendale, California to Richard and Virginia Eddy. She was the middle child of three, having an older sister Diane, and a younger brother David. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother was an artist. Johanna possessed traits from her two parents and was quite gifted in both areas. As a child her teachers recognized the tremendous aptitude that Johanna possessed and she was considered a child prodigy. Although her family did not have the means to send her to a special school, she did attend a specialized program, Mentally Gifted Minors, where she was a stand out among this select group of students. In the sixth grade Johanna befriended two young girls, Margaret and Colleen. These three would become the "Three Muskateers" and maintained a close sister-like relationship over the past 32 years. Johanna, Colleen, and Margaret attended the same junior high school and high school. Growing up together, they shared their deepest secrets, they formed their dreams, they shaped their futures, but mostly, they made each other laugh; at the world and at themselves. As the years progressed, their paths changed directions, but their deep connection remained ever strong. As adult women, Johanna, Colleen, and Margaret maintained this bond over the course of college years, their professional lives, and their family experiences. Even a geographical separation couldn't divide them. Until the very end of Johanna's life, these three life-long friends maintained an intimacy few people ever experience. Johanna attended Newport Mesa Unified School District. She graduated valedictorian from Cost Mesa High School in 1982. Whe was awarded a scholarship from Bank of America for Excellence in Science. She attended College locally at the University of California at Irvine and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elecrical Engineering in 1986. She worked for 18 years as an electrical and software engineer and later as a manager of software design and development. Her notable professional achievements included design of the Asinc airline passenger moving-map computer system that lets passengers know where their plane is during its flight and Coinstar's grocery store coin counting machines. She is credited with two patents for her work in the engineering field. In 1996 Johanna was diagnosed with breast cancer which was aggressively treated. Although devastated by this diagnosis, Johanna continued to work, making her chemotherapy appointments on Friday afternoons, never missing a day at work during the treatment. Following her recovery from cancer, she embarked on a journey which led her to become a research scientist. She returned to school, taking biology and chemistry classes at Bellevue Community College in order to complete the necessary pre-requisites to apply to graduate school. While taking these classes to prepare for her doctoral program, she received a scholarship that is awarded to academically outstanding women returning to school after experiencing personal adversity. She joined the Molecular and Cellualr Biology graduate program at the University of Wshington in the fall of 2003. In September 2004, Johanna married Rick, whom she described as "the man of her dreams," and they began their lives together, deeply in love. Unfortunately, in October of that same year, the cancer returned and Johanna was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Rick and Johanna began treatment immediately. In a reflection of her quiet, intense drive, Johanna chose to continue in the doctoral program while undergoing cancer treatment. Her research focused on cancer at a molecular level, and she published three papers about her findings. She received her Doctorate of Philosophy in February 2009. Thirteen years after her initial diagnosis, Johanna passed away on July 27, 2009 at her home, surrounded by her family. Johanna was a true champion. She loved life. Johanna enjoyed playing volleyball and golf, she skied and she truly loved snorkeling in Hawaii. Going to Hawaii was an annual trip for her and Rick. The two of them traveled to Europe twice in the five years of their marriage...going on wine tasting tours with her firends, and spending time with her family and friends in southern California. She laughed freely and often. Johanna didn't complain and although, in the end, the cncer took her physical life, she never let it take her spirit. She brought joy to life and to everyone who had the privilege to know her.