Joan Garrett Vallaincourt, 93, of Redding, Connecticut, longtime resident of Ridgefield, passed away on February 12, 2020. She was the loving wife of the late Richard 'Dick' Vallaincourt (SPHS '39)

Joan was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on March 15, 1926; a daughter of the late Joseph and Catherine Garrett. At a young age she relocated from Boston to Los Angeles and graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1943. She later attended UCLA and graduated with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. At UCLA she was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and president of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Joan and Dick were married in 1948 in California and then moved to New Jersey, where she was active in many community organizations. She served as president of the League of women Voters of Summit, New Jersey and was appointed to the Summit Board of Education. In 1973 they moved to Ridgefield and Joan earned a Master's of Library Science degree and worked at the Ridgefield Library for many years as a Reference Librarian. She served on the Board of Directors for the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association where she regularly volunteered to visit patients. She developed a strategic plan for the VNA, and facilitated the tax-free donation of the old Ridgefield Junior High School building by the town of Ridgefield to the VNA. She subsequently won an award for her excellent achievement working for the association. Following Dick's death in 2002, Joan moved to Meadow Ridge and continued to volunteer as a resident there in several capacities.

Joan was an intelligent, warm-hearted person who took a great interest in people and made many friendships through the end of her long life. She was a gifted athlete, played women's intramural basketball at UCLA, and was an avid tennis player and golfer until well into her later years. Joan had a rich social life that revolved around her love of sports, art and music, and enjoyed playing bridge regularly into her 90s.

She is survived by her children:  Katherine, Michelle, Anne, and Peter, as well as three grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Joan was predeceased by a son, Richard.

Ridgegfield HamletHub, April 8, 2020