Joyce Keld (1930-1980) was a seven-year member of the school board for District 28 in central Queens, including three terms as president. She was admired for her fairness in her dealings with the board and her fellow parents in the community. A resident of Briarwood, she served on the school board during a period of budgetary crisis in the mid-1970s.

Keld earned a master’s degree from Columbia University and worked for a period as a psychiatric social worker in Manhattan. The founder of her local Briarwood Girl Scout unit, she also served her community as District 28 school board president for three one-year terms. Colleagues on the board described her as soft-spoken and compassionate.

In June 1980, Keld resigned from the board due to ongoing health issues. She died of ovarian cancer on November 26, 1980, at North Shore Hospital. She was 50 years old. Survived at the time by her husband, Herman, an executive with Columbia Broadcasting System, and daughters Pamela and Sharon, Keld is buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing.

Named in honor of Joyce Keld, P.S. 117 J. Keld / Briarwood School was originally constructed in 1928 and is located at 85-15 143rd Street in Briarwood.