Joan Hayden Cadwalader, 83, of Unionville, died at home on Thursday July 30 after a bout with ovarian cancer. She was the daughter of Walter H. Hayden and Mildred MacBurnie Hayden, both deceased. She was predeceased by her husband Gouverneur Cadwalader Jr. who died in June 2006.

Mrs. Cadwalader was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Overbrook and on their family farm, “Blue Hill,” in Rose Tree, north of Media. She spent her childhood winters in Miami Beach, Fla., where her family relocated so that her two late brothers Walter and Peter could play polo. Interestingly, their Miami Beach compound shared a wall with notorious gangster Al Capone, who had a house next door.

She graduated from the Agnes Irwin School. And after marrying Mr. Cadwalader settled on their horse farm in Unionville, and summered for many years at the Pocono Lake Preserve.

She was the great, great granddaughter of the successful 19th century industrialist Charles J. Harrah, who built boats and railroads in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and owned the Midvale Steel Co. in Philadelphia, which manufactured trolley cars.

She was an accomplished equestrian in a variety of disciplines including show jumping, carriageing and endurance riding. She won the Best Child Rider Award at the Devon Horse Show in 1938, and fox hunted regularly throughout her childhood and adult life with Rose Tree, Brandywine, Radnor and Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds. She was a volunteer and financial sponsor for the now well-established Laurels at Landhope Combined Driving Event, which has found international acclaim, and the Brandywine Valley Driving Association. In 1972 she helped start the Philadelphia Horse Show, and was a driving force in many local pony club, horse show, horse racing and endurance riding events.

Beside her love of horses she was also a good athlete. She was a strong swimmer from her days in Florida and a fine tennis player. While a member of the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, she helped to start the Tenni-Tour, an annual round-robin event at which teams would travel to different private courts in the Unionville area to compete. She also liked to sail spending many weekends on the Chesapeake Bay.

A keen amateur historian and genealogist, Mrs. Cadwalader spent many years researching Philadelphia and Chester County history, digging up information in court house records, libraries and the Chester County Historical Society. She was on the board of the Nathaniel Newlin Grist Mill and on the board of Primitive Hall.

She was a member of the Garden Club of West Chester and on the board of the Salisbury School in Salisbury, Conn. Mrs. Cadwalader also did charity and volunteer work for the Philadelphia Academy of Music, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Philadelphia. She supported many organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, La Communidad Hispana, the Brandywine Conservancy and was a firm advocate for women’s rights.

She is survived by her sister Janet H. Patton of Louisville, Ky., sons Stephen Cadwalader of Bryn Mawr, R. Kent Cadwalader of Villanova, Anthony J.D. Cadwalader of Unionville, two stepsons, Gouverneur Cadwalader III of Lewiston, N.Y., and Richard M. Cadwalader of Stockholm, Sweden, a niece, Gioia A.H. Patton of Louisville, Ky. and a nephew, David L. Patton of Los Angeles, Calif., and eight grandchildren.

There will be a graveside service at historic West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd. on Aug. 12 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy, P.O. Box 528, Unionville, PA 19375.

Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecofuneralhomes.com.