Joan Stephenson

Madison/New Jersey - Joan D. Stephenson, an engaging and colorful woman of immense artistic talent, died peacefully from the after-effects of COVID-19 on Thursday, December 17, 2020 in Oregon, WI. She was 80 years old.

Joan was born in Romford, England, on January 6, 1940 to Edward and Alice Stephenson.  A highly regarded fine artist, Joan’s work focused on the human experience and the hidden effects of war and personal trauma, as informed by her own childhood experiences during the Second World War.

As a young woman, Joan moved to London, where she did clerical work, lived in a flat with friends, and first became interested in art. At 24, she moved to America, settling first in New York City and later New Jersey.

In the early 1970s, Joan worked as a research assistant to the pioneering psychologist and civil rights activist Dr. Kenneth Clark. Deciding to pursue her passion for art, she enrolled in the Art Students League of New York, where she studied under Jose De Creeft. Later, she apprenticed at the Johnson Atelier in Mercerville, NJ.

While at the Art Students League, Joan met Larry Deitch and the two developed a friendship that would last the rest of their lives. They eventually married and settled in Layton, NJ and later in Philipsburg, NJ, where they were part of the fabric of the Lehigh Valley arts community.

Joan’s paintings were shown in galleries and private collections in the U.S. and Europe and she received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships. She taught art at the college level and at an alternative high school for emotionally and behaviorally challenged teenagers – work that she found deeply rewarding.

Despite finishing her general education at age 15, Joan was remarkably well-read, deeply knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, and a master conversationalist. She and Larry loved to host parties and gatherings of all kinds.

A British citizen her whole life, Joan kept her native accent, charm, and sense of humor. She traveled throughout the US, Europe, and India, making new friends along the way and throughout her life. She loved reading, a strong cup of tea, and a good beer. She especially enjoyed sharing interesting stories, searching for treasures, and being by the ocean.

Joan loved her family, and her greatest joy over the past sixteen years was spending time with her two grandchildren, Eliza and Simon. She loved to draw with them during family visits, and they talked frequently in between.

She is survived by her daughter, Aphra Mednick (Adam); grandchildren, Eliza and Simon Mednick; nieces, Julie (John) Neep, Kim (Ray) Young, Lyn Chalk (John); and nephew John (Liane) Watts.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry Deitch, half-sister Eileen (Ronald) Watts, and four half-brothers, William, Leonard, Bill (May) and Albert (Pat).

Joan’s family is grateful for the kindness and loving care she received from everyone at Beehive Homes of Oregon, WI, where she had many friends, and from the nurses and doctors at Agrace Hospice of Wisconsin.

May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her.

Memorials can be made in Joan's name to:

Fresh Artists

https://www.freshartists.org/for-educators/qualifying-schools

Agrace Hospice

https://www.agrace.org