Joan Gay Kent

Joan Gay Kent of Greenport passed away peacefully Jan. 26 after a long illness. She was a former longtime resident of Sands Point and Port Washington. 

Joan was born Feb. 20, 1924, graduated from Colby College in 1945 and embarked on her writing and public relations career. She married Stephen R. Kent in 1959 and moved to Sands Point.

Joan was a prodigious writer of historical events and authored “Discovering Sands Point: Its History, Its People, Its Places.” She served as president of Port Washington Public Library for over ten years, was one of the founders and past president of Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society and took an active roll in the Manhasset/Port Washington League of Women Voters. Joan was also a past historian for the Town of North Hempstead and former member of the Town Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Joan is survived by her sister, Janet Gay Hawkins of Greenport and her son Christopher of St. Johnsbury, Vt.,  his children Rebecca, Matthew and Jeremiah, and his two grandchildren, Rachel and Patrick. In addition, Joan is survived by her nephew, Jonathan Hawkins of Jamestown, R.I., his wife Brenda and his son Jackson Hawkins. She also leaves behind her step daughter, Pamela Riddle of Yuma, AZ, and her husband, Bruce; her stepgranddaughter, Maria Steyn Falkender of Clarksville Md, her husband, Michael, and their daughters Lauren and Kathryn.

Mrs. Kent’s burial will be private. A celebration of her life will be planed at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club in Port Washington at a date and time to be announced.

The family suggests a memorial donation in Joan’s name to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements were entrusted to Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.

This is a paid notice.