JoAnn Algiers Levy

JoAnn Algiers Levy passed away suddenly, peacefully, and unexpectedly at home on July 3, 2026.

JoAnn was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Norman Algiers, was a career Navy man, and her mother, Brooke, also worked for the Navy. JoAnn earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of Hawaii, where she was a cheerleader for all the university's sports teams. While in Hawaii, she worked as a hula hoop demonstrator when the hula hoop was first invented. She was also the host of a television show in Hawaii, where she specialized in interviewing people visiting the islands.

As an exchange student at the University of Oslo, Norway, she became interested in skiing. After returning to Hawaii, she decided to take skiing seriously and took the train from Los Angeles to Sun Valley—the famed Snowball Express.

JoAnn got a job with the Sun Valley Company, quickly learned to ski, and became a ski instructor in charge of large numbers of youngsters. She lived in the dormitories and took on several other jobs as well, including working at The Boiler Room. One job she especially loved was being a "hot bun girl" in the lodge dining room, where she got along well with all the celebrity guests. Another resort job she loved was working as a so-called soda jerk selling ice cream—where she laughed that she gained twenty pounds over just one season.

When the Janss family bought Sun Valley, she continued working for them, and when the Holding family later purchased the resort, she stayed on with the new ownership as well. She was proud to have worked for every ownership group of the Sun Valley Company, because she so loved the resort, the town and the area.

From the time she moved to Sun Valley, JoAnn saved her money and invested in real estate, and she was proud to own properties in both the Warm Springs neighborhood and Sun Valley Resort's Dollar Meadows area.

In 1972, JoAnn began working as executive secretary of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, where she handled responsibilities such as managing all reservations for the Alpine skiers. That was the year she met Dr. Lynn Levy, who was working at the Mollie Scott Clinic in Sun Valley. They began dating soon after.

While they were dating, JoAnn told Lynn that she had a problem with his name—it was too feminine a name for her to be dating, and especially too feminine for a man who was such a macho hunter and fisherman. He asked, "So what do you want to do about that?" She said, "Well, I'd like to change your name to Buck." He started laughing and said, "If you'll marry me, you can call me anything you want." That settled it. She began calling him Buck, and soon everyone else called him Buck too. They were married in October 1973, and JoAnn, Buck and her black Lab, Bwana, moved into her Dollar Meadows unit.

Buck had four children from a previous marriage, and JoAnn was a very pleasant stepmom. In fact, she bought several of her stepchildren cars for their sixteenth birthdays, and they still smile at the thought of her giving them their first set of keys.

In 1977, their son Dan was born. JoAnn had a difficult pregnancy and went to Boise for a C-section. After Dan was born, JoAnn concentrated on being a great mother, serving as PTA president and chaperoning school trips.

JoAnn was active in the community. She served on the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission and then on the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission, and she may have been the only person ever to serve on both the Ketchum and Sun Valley city councils. One moment she was particularly proud of as a council member came when she insisted on bringing in an avalanche expert to evaluate a proposed development in Elkhorn. The expert concluded the site was too dangerous and that no buildings should be placed in that specific area, and she agreed. The very next winter, avalanches struck that exact spot, burying it in over ten feet of snow. Her wise decision prevented a huge disaster.

She eventually ran for mayor of Sun Valley and was elected. She loved being mayor of Sun Valley, and her favorite part of her mayoral duties was marrying people.

JoAnn was a passionate skier. Nearly every winter, she was the first person in line for the chairlift on opening day—and you can check the covers of the local paper for proof. In old back issues, she's almost always there on the cover, smiling from the first chair of the season.

JoAnn was a tenacious athlete. She was well known for participating in the Boulder Mountain Tour ski race, and in fact she set a record for the most consecutive Boulder Mountain Tours—a record that still stands.

JoAnn also became an excellent hunter and fisherwoman in her own right.

JoAnn and her husband, Buck, both became interested in marathon running, and JoAnn ran several marathons.

JoAnn worked so many jobs in the Wood River Valley that it is hard to keep track of them all. But one job she absolutely loved was being a local DJ on KSKI radio, where she had a four-hour show every week. To this day, people still come up and mention listening to her show. Her favorite band was probably The Beatles, but every week she would sign off by dedicating one particular song to her husband—who might not be listening, since he'd likely be out hunting or fishing. The song she always played for him was Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Another job JoAnn truly enjoyed was substitute teaching, putting those education degrees from the University of Hawaii to work. Many of her students told her that even though she was "just" a substitute, she was still their favorite teacher. Over the years, many former pupils would come up to her and say they never forgot the unusual Hawaiian foods she would bring to class to shock her students—like spicy dried cuttlefish.

Even as a shopper, JoAnn was active around town. She loved hunting for bargains almost daily at the Gold Mine Thrift Store, and because she loved cooking so much, she would go to Atkinsons' Market at least once a day—sometimes several times in the same day.

In the kitchen, JoAnn was a great cook of all kinds of food, particularly proud of her Louisiana-style New Orleans cuisine. Buck was originally from New Orleans, and she put great energy into mastering the city's cooking—even traveling there to take classes from New Orleans chefs. And although JoAnn never smoked or drank alcohol, she enjoyed making her husband a very dry martini.

JoAnn had a passion for fun vehicles. In Hawaii, she enjoyed driving a convertible T-Bird, and in Sun Valley she bought her husband Buck a surprise Suburban with a custom camouflage paint job. But her favorite car was her white '63 Cadillac convertible, which she bought in Sun Valley and drove in the local Fourth of July parade every single year.

Above all, JoAnn was a very giving person. Every holiday season, she would make countless shortbread cakes and give them to everyone she had frequent interactions with throughout the year. She also enjoyed hosting an annual cookie party, which numerous women would attend, each bringing their best cookies.

JoAnn had many wonderful friends, including one group that met for a standing date every single week to go to the movies. JoAnn loved the cinema—and a giant tub of popcorn!

With another group of good friends she shared her passion for hiking. Every summer, she and several of her pals—known as "Les Girls"—would even travel out of town for a hiking adventure.

For the last 15 years of her life, JoAnn absolutely loved being a grandma. She was the best grandma ever, and she adored being called "Tutu," the Hawaiian word for grandma.

Tutu JoAnn Algiers Levy passed away at home surrounded by her family, who cherished her and loved her so dearly.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Buck; her son, Daniel; her brother, Michael Algiers; and her four beloved grandchildren.

JoAnn will be laid to rest at the Ketchum Cemetery. Her family is planning a celebration of her life; details are still being arranged. Those who would like to attend may reach out to Buck or Dan, and an announcement of any public events will be published in the local paper.

To anyone who knew her and is reading this, we are sure she would wish you a huge "Aloha!" with her beaming, joyful smile.