JoAnn began life in Buffalo, N.Y. and her family moved frequently; with stops in Cleveland, Phoenix and Riverview, Florida, where her love of fishing took root.

“There was a small pond in the backyard with a little dock we could fish from. That pond gave me many happy memories, learning to fish and setting trotlines with John (her older brother). I fell in love with fishing and almost lived on that dock. It took me away from all the problems at home."
 

As a young adult, JoAnn relocated to Tampa, where she hung glass on high-rise buildings with one of her sisters. She then moved to Tennessee, where another sister lived. In Tennessee, JoAnn’s life was forever changed by a kindly mentor who taught her how to make prosthetic limbs and support braces. She later turned that knowledge into the prosthetic and brace business she owned and operated for more than two decades along Florida’s west coast – a successful business endeavor that allowed her to purchase a boat and eventually retire early. 

JoAnn attended fishing seminars given by Chris Galati and Captain Anthony Manali. Yep, The Captain! She hired Anthony to take her and her friends fishing and to learn about boating from a seasoned pro. As they grew closer, one day, she finally asked him on a dinner date,
(which is lovingly detailed in her memoir) and the rest, as they say, is history!

“I hired him to be my captain. I married him because I fell in love with him. I couldn’t believe what a wonderful fisherman he was, but he’s also a wonderful person”