Joanne W. Lenci

One day after celebrating her 97th birthday, Joanne Whiting Lenci died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Fairfield. A 70-year resident of the town, she had spent the last 5 years living at Sturges Ridge, where she continued to celebrate life with her many friends and family.

Joanne was born in Cambridge, MA to Helen and Edmund Whiting. She spent her childhood in Swampscott MA and Narberth PA, graduating from Lower Merion High School and then from Skidmore College in 1949. She was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband, Thomas Dexter Lenci, her brother William and his wife, Nat, brother Richard and his wife Emma, and sister, Marion and her husband, Frank, as well as her in-laws Louise Dexter and Thomas Alonzo Lenci. She was also predeceased by sister-in-laws Janet Richardson Lenci and Shirley Cunnick, brother-in-law William Cunnick, a niece, Jeannie Whiting and a grand-nephew, Geoff Blaskey.

Joanne and Dex came to Fairfield in 1955, when they decided it was the perfect place to establish his medical practice and raise a family, since it was on Long Island Sound, perfect for sailing. They immersed themselves in the community, making lifelong friends through church, tennis, skiing, sailing and a host of other activities. Wherever Joanne was, there was fun, action, smiles, and celebration. Her gracious hospitality and untiring service to others became her hallmark. And not surprisingly, after Dex’s passing, she lived the rest of her life in the town she loved dearly, moving from Merwins Lane to Sunnie Holme Drive to Field Point Drive, planting and tending to her beautiful gardens in each of her homes.

Having graduated Skidmore with a degree in Education, Joanne first became a PE teacher and then carried that love of action into her community and volunteer life. She is still remembered by many as a long time referee for high school field hockey, the legendary games at the annual Memorial Day celebration on Merwins Lane and her grandchildren’s claim to fame that she started Field Day at Dwight School. Her name adorns the winner’s trophies for women’s tennis at Fairfield Beach Club, where she also played paddle and was a member for 65 years. Later, she continued her active lifestyle at the Country Club of Fairfield, where she played golf until she was nearly 90.

Joanne and her commitment to service will continue to be a family inspiration. Her longterm voluntarism with the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County, The Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival, Greenfield Hill Congregational Church and the Dogwood Festival, the English Literary Club, Women in Finance, Southport Congregational Church and countless others cemented her devotion to her local community and continued for decades. For many years, she worked at Tres Bon, a gift shop in Greenfield Hill, putting her tremendous people skills to use. She was an avid supporter of the Bridgeport Symphony and the Westport Playhouse. In the years following her husband's death in 1983, Joanne traveled all over the world, always returning with gifts, photos and stories to share. 

Joanne leaves a family legacy of generosity, kindness and love. She is survived by her daughter Janet Jenkins and her husband, Jay, her son Thomas Lenci and his wife, Susan and her son, Donald; her loving grandchildren, Jason Jenkins, Brooke and Brandon Clark, Ryan and Ashley Jenkins, Allie and Jonathan Bryan and Taylor and Michael Assaraf, her brother-in-law Gordon Lenci and his partner Beverly Sutton, her sister-in-law Gloria Cunnick, and 14 nieces and nephews.

One of the greatest joys of Joanne’s life came with the arrival of her great-grandchildren; Kaela and Kendall Jenkins, Noah, Ezra and Zoe Clark, Ella, Landon and Meyer Jenkins, Wesley, Sophie and Juniper Bryan and Milo and Levi Assaraf. 

A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held on Sunday, June 15th at 3 pm at Southport Congregational church, where she has been a congregant for the past 20 years. The family thanks Joanne’s many friends for the outpouring of love and support and requests that any donations in her honor be made to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.