09/23/2026
NCADD Westchester Board Member Natasha Silver Bell CARC, CCAR and Founder & CEO of Silver Bell Coaching had a heartfelt and personal relationship with Joan. When asked about her deep and fond memories of Joan and about Joan's lifelong goal of NCADD Westchester to save lives and help guide people, this is what Natasha had to say....
"Joan was an extraordinary woman, mentor, and friend, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have known her. What always struck me about Joan was the depth of her compassion and her unwavering determination to help others. She understood addiction not merely as an issue to discuss but as something that touches individuals, families, and entire communities—and she devoted much of her life to ensuring people did not have to face it alone. On a personal level, Joan embodied courage, perseverance, and service. She took her own experiences and transformed them into purpose, using her voice and her life to open doors for others. She believed deeply in people and in the possibility of recovery. To me, that is one of the greatest gifts a person can give another: hope when someone may not yet be able to find it for themselves. I will always be grateful for Joan’s friendship, her example, and the opportunity to work alongside her. Her absence will be deeply felt, but the impact she made will endure through every person whose life was changed because she cared enough to show up.
Joan was all about saving lives and helping those who battled addiction. Do you think she accomplished that, and what are your thoughts about NCADD Westchester and the goal of the Council? Without question, Joan accomplished what she set out to do, and her impact reaches far beyond what any of us can measure. Through NCADD Westchester, she helped create a place where individuals and families could find education, resources, referrals, support, and, perhaps most importantly, hope. Joan understood that addiction is a disease and that stigma can prevent people from reaching out for the help they desperately need. She dedicated herself to changing that. Her commitment to prevention, education, professional training, recovery support, intervention, and connecting people with treatment created a ripple effect throughout Westchester and beyond.
That is why continuing the work of NCADD Westchester is so important. Its mission—to educate the public about substance use disorders while providing information, education, intervention, and referrals—is as relevant today as it has ever been. Joan built a foundation that has touched thousands of lives, and I believe we now have both an opportunity and a responsibility to carry that work forward. The greatest way we can honor Joan is not simply by remembering what she accomplished, but by continuing it: reducing stigma, educating our communities, supporting individuals and families affected by addiction, strengthening pathways to recovery, and reminding people that they are never alone and that recovery is possible. That is Joan’s legacy, and it is one I am deeply honored to help carry forward."
