Joanne Ottaviano (“JoJo”) has served as President of the Piermont Civic Association (PCA) since 2018. A lifelong artist, she brings a deep and multifaceted love of the arts to both her creative work and community leadership.
JoJo studied ballet at the American Ballet Theatre, performing at Lincoln Center and with the visiting Bolshoi Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. JoJo went on to build an extensive career in the visual arts, holding a sold-out one-woman exhibition on the Ginza at Tokyo’s Art House Gallery when 26 years old, followed by gallery shows throughout New York City and the surrounding area. Her paintings are playful and textural, incorporating unexpected materials.
For 30 years, JoJo worked as a makeup artist in television, film, fashion, and editorial, including work for three U.S. Presidents - Carter, Clinton, and Trump - and numerous celebrities such as Samuel Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Ferrell, Scarlett Johansson, and Larry David.
JoJo first moved to Piermont from Harrington Park, New Jersey, in 1979 to stay with her mother, Yvonne Trinkwater, a major contributor to the Piermont Community as well. She later lived throughout Manhattan while attending the School of Visual Arts. In 2009, JoJo returned to Piermont purchasing her mother’s home.
As PCA President, JoJo helped start a weekly food pantry during Covid. She started a “Holiday S’mores Festival” to bring this old-fashioned tradition to villagers’ children. The annual Scarecrow Contest has also remained a vibrant part of the community with each child receiving complimentary boxed educational gifts and goody bags for participation, and with hand made art work given to the top three winning entries. In addition, the Easter Egg Festival has grown from a handful of children to nearly one hundred at last year’s event (a bit overwhelming!). The PCA Facebook page began with less than 50 followers and is now thriving with daily local and neighboring community updates, with a following of over 2,000 people and many more daily viewers of the site.
JoJo founded the Bob Samuels Summer Concert Series in honor of Bob Samuels, a longtime Piermont Civic Association President, one of the first Piermont residents lost to Covid. In 2024, JoJo submitted for and was selected by the Derek Jeter Greatest of All Time community grant for her ongoing commitment and dedication to Piermont, receiving $1,000 for the charity of her choice. Entrants from all over the country described “why they believed their individual efforts and contributions to their community created positive change and how they acted as leaders, mentors, and role models”.
Today, JoJo continues to create commissioned art work, takes on occasional makeup projects, and - true to her heart - is an avid animal lover.
Joanne Ottaviano (“JoJo”) has served as President of the Piermont Civic Association (PCA) since 2018. A lifelong artist, she brings a deep and multifaceted love of the arts to both her creative work and community leadership.
JoJo studied ballet at the American Ballet Theatre, performing at Lincoln Center and with the visiting Bolshoi Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. JoJo went on to build an extensive career in the visual arts, holding a sold-out one-woman exhibition on the Ginza at Tokyo’s Art House Gallery when 26 years old, followed by gallery shows throughout New York City and the surrounding area. Her paintings are playful and textural, incorporating unexpected materials.
For 30 years, JoJo worked as a makeup artist in television, film, fashion, and editorial, including work for three U.S. Presidents - Carter, Clinton, and Trump - and numerous celebrities such as Samuel Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Ferrell, Scarlett Johansson, and Larry David.
JoJo first moved to Piermont from Harrington Park, New Jersey, in 1979 to stay with her mother, Yvonne Trinkwater, a major contributor to the Piermont Community as well. She later lived throughout Manhattan while attending the School of Visual Arts. In 2009, JoJo returned to Piermont purchasing her mother’s home.
As PCA President, JoJo helped start a weekly food pantry during Covid. She started a “Holiday S’mores Festival” to bring this old-fashioned tradition to villagers’ children. The annual Scarecrow Contest has also remained a vibrant part of the community with each child receiving complimentary boxed educational gifts and goody bags for participation, and with hand made art work given to the top three winning entries. In addition, the Easter Egg Festival has grown from a handful of children to nearly one hundred at last year’s event (a bit overwhelming!). The PCA Facebook page began with less than 50 followers and is now thriving with daily local and neighboring community updates, with a following of over 2,000 people and many more daily viewers of the site.
JoJo founded the Bob Samuels Summer Concert Series in honor of Bob Samuels, a longtime Piermont Civic Association President, one of the first Piermont residents lost to Covid. In 2024, JoJo submitted for and was selected by the Derek Jeter Greatest of All Time community grant for her ongoing commitment and dedication to Piermont, receiving $1,000 for the charity of her choice. Entrants from all over the country described “why they believed their individual efforts and contributions to their community created positive change and how they acted as leaders, mentors, and role models”.
Today, JoJo continues to create commissioned art work, takes on occasional makeup projects, and - true to her heart - is an avid animal lover.
James Weeks, Treasurer of the PCA, relocated from New York City to Piermont in 2024. After studying at Oberlin College and the Universities of Arizona and New Hampshire, James worked as an editor at Abaris Books, publishing the 18 volume Illustrated Bartsch, the definitive catalogue of Renaissanceetchings and engravings. He also completed an English translation of Aloysius Bertrand’s Gaspard de la Nuit, the first book of prose poems in western literature. He later worked as a construction manager, renovating townhouses, loft buildings and restaurants throughout Manhattan, and constructing new single family homes in New Hampshire and West Virginia. His last construction project was to design and build Uptown Vets animal hospital on West 112th Street NYC, which he ran with his wife from 2008 until both retired in 2020. He’s also enjoyed curling at the Ardsley Curling Club since 2006.
PCA Amazing Members