My name is Tanya and I was Joan’s hairstylist… Joan was my longtime client for at least 20 years.  From the minute I met her we immediately connected… her warm and bubbly smile and personality . She emitted light when she entered the room. She became like a second mother to me (Ironically my mother’s name was Joan!) always giving me amazing advice on everything from decorating, cooking, traveling, skincare cream, relationships and of course art. I admired her energy and amazing talents. I attended many of her and her friend Marie’s art shows. She would take the time to email me photos of her travels and her art in its various phases as I was fascinated by it.  To my surprise she gifted me a piece of her handmade paper as a housewarming gift which I cherish. She even helped me with advice about getting it properly framed which I’m sure you know was important to her.. 

She always spoke so lovingly and proud of her husband Joe and all her family and friends updating me on how everyone was doing.. she especially loved when everyone was gathering at her house and gardens. She gave the best advice on throwing a dinner party! She is a bright light that I will forever miss bouncing into the salon after her Pilate’s class. I just wanted to share with you how much she meant to me… she was and will continue to be my inspiration of how to live and love life to the fullest!

I send you all my heartfelt condolences. 

I loved Joan Needham. She was always so upbeat and caring and generous. Joan was a force of nature,  up for adventures and trying new things. Optimistic and encouraging to others, nothing was impossible in Joan's  mind.  Her positive energy was infectious. I will miss her greatly.

Joan, Kate, Fran and I spent time together in South Africa over a number of years (for me beginning in 2010) where we taught art workshops to underserved women in the informal settlements outside of Cape Town, South Africa. We stayed in a very charming and quirky B&B, Sunny Cove in Fish Hoek,  which was reminiscent of Faulty Towers. Joan and I were often "roommates" and we had many a laugh over our sleeping situations (I sometimes had to sleep on a mattress on the floor which seemed to tickle Joan to no end),  and our dining experience where the proprietor would walk around the tables bare footed picking discarded prune pits from our breakfast plates with his bare hands. We all loved the owners and had a wonderful time together.

 I remember when I first learned to drive in S Africa (driving is on the opposite side of the road from the US). Joan was brave enough to be my first and only passenger and I was extremely nervous and shaky. As we were going through a roundabout in Cape Town with a lot of traffic,  I nearly side swiped a car.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Joan cringe but she very assertively  commented "I think you are doing  extremely well. You are a very good driver." That still brings a smile to my face. Joan was so encouraging and looked on the positive side of everything.

Joan, Kate, Fran and I would meet in Princeton throughout the years for lunch or dinner and we enjoyed many warm and convivial times together. And there were also the "apple pie bake off" dinners in the fall which Joan hosted and Bill Bridgers organized. A group of us met (Kate and Steve, Hetty and Jim, Deb and Bill, Susan and Mate Hockaday among others) and everyone brought a baked pie to see whose was the best. Don't think we ever did pick a winner, but Joan generously opened her home to all of us.  

On another occasion I accompanied Joan and Marie Sturken to MoMA in New York. We arrived mid morning and after seeing a few exhibits took a break to have lunch. I felt ready to return to Princeton when our meal was done, but not Joan and Marie. They wanted to continue touring the museum with seemingly inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm, commenting on nearly every piece of art on multiple floors. Finally at around 3:30 pm I turned to Joan and Marie said, "I am exhausted and think I will go home now." They were quite surprised  that I could be tired and a bit disappointed as they were planning to stay on for a few more hours and then go out to dinner! 

Joan also joined me in teaching art workshops to a group of older, primarily Jamaican women at a Trenton Church, Mt. Bethel Church of God. Joan's generosity extended beyond the workshops. She invited all of the women (some 12-16 of them) to her home and cooked lunch for them. And when they were about to leave she provided each woman with a bag of fresh produce from her amazing garden. Wow! That's Joan. 

I always thought Joan would live forever. What a special gift it was to know her and spend time together and be her friend.  I am so sorry for the loss you must all be feeling. I can still hear her laughter, see her radiant smile. Her light lives on.   

Lots of love to you Joe..and to all of her family.  

Hetty