JOAN PELTON

JOAN PELTON - WATERBURY - Joan Pelton, a long time Waterbury resident, died in Morrisville on her 80th birthday, Feb. 15, 2012. Joan was born in Bristol, Penn., on Feb. 15, 1932, to William and Mary-Scott Mason. The family moved to Waterbury two years later, and Vermont was her heart's home for the rest of her life. She attended public schools in Waterbury, graduating in 1949. She then attended Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., and graduated cum laude with a degree in mathematics in 1953. While there, she met and married Clifford Pelton, the father of her four sons. Cliff's job took the family to Vermont, Tennessee, Virginia, and New York before the couple divorced in 1976, after which Joan returned to Waterbury for rest of her life. Music was a pleasure that was central to Joan's life. She sang in church choirs, musical plays, and folk music clubs. She played traditional New England contra dance music on a variety of instruments in bands such as Fennig's AllStars and the Pumpkin Hook Old-Time Orchestra, and then she founded and ran a record label (Alcazar) and an independent label distributor (Silo) to record, promote, and distribute music that she treasured. She loved the non-stop music and camaraderie of Fox Hollow, Old Songs, and other folk music festivals, and Alcazar's retail division provided a perfect reason to attend as many as possible. When she was not making music, Joan enjoyed taking a long walk on a country road or sailing on Lake Champlain in the company of family and friends. Joan suffered from a neurodegenerative disease that eventually took her life. She is survived by her brother, Peter Mason; sister, Ann Louise Courchaine; her sons, William, Jesse, and Aaron Pelton; her daughter-in-law, Alison Watt; her grandson, Alec Pelton; and cousins, nieces, and nephews across the country. Her brother, Benjamin Mason and son, Seth Pelton predeceased her. A memorial service and reception will be held at Waterbury Congregational Church on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Joan's love for dance music, please consider a donation to the New England Folk Festival Association, either via mail (NEFFA, P.O. Box 2789, Acton, MA 01720) or via the donate button at www.neffa.org.