Dr. Arthur Joslin ~ Class of 1981
Posthumous Award
Dr. Arthur (Art) Charles Joslin, J.D., age 60, passed away February 21, 2023. He was born on November 23, 1962, in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Dave Joslin and Gail Hunziker. Art married his loving wife, Diane Craven, on February 14, 1990 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He will be remembered as a loving father, devoted husband, and good friend to many.
Dr. Joslin earned a Master’s Degree in Voice from the University of Michigan, School of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois, School of Music. He enjoyed singing from the Classical, Operatic, Pop/Rock, and Gospel genres, as well as from the Great American Songbook for over 40 years. Trained as an operatic baritone, Dr. Joslin appeared in leading roles, concerts, and recitals in Detroit, Philadelphia, San Diego, Sacramento, Toronto, Windsor, Little Rock, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Nairobi, Kenya. He soloed at the National Cathedral, and the Kenyan National Theatre.
In the last years of his life, he earned a couple of his advanced degrees: Juris Doctor from the Thomas Cooley Law School (2021) Doctor of Musical Arts (2023). Art served his community as a volunteer firefighter, a reserve police officer, and a chaplain. He was also a professional scuba diver, a firearms training instructor, journeyman, and an experienced security and close protection specialist. Art had over 35 years experience and training in Hapkido, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, with Level 4 (black belt) in Commando Krav Maga.
To the Van Buren Township community, Dr. Joslin was a volunteer firefighter at Station #1. He also volunteered in Van Buren Public Schools in his area of expertise, music. Dr. Joslin volunteered with Mr. David Declark at Savage Elementary School in music education. He also volunteered with the Belleville High School Marching Band for eight years, helping with band camp and teaching students music.