Search by Name

Search by Name

Luraine Tansey

1918 - 2014

Luraine Tansey Obituary

Luraine Tansey
01/29/1918-06/18/2014
Middletown
Luraine Collins Tansey, born January 29,1918 in Manhattan Kansas to Merle D. and Amy B. Collins.
She was raised in Marysville, CA, and lived in San Jose CA until 1999, when she moved to Bristol Rhode Island to be closer to her sons.
A 1939 graduate of UC Berkeley, she had graduate degrees from Mills College, SJSU and NYU. During college she served as second violin in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. During World War II, she was a Red Cross nurse at Camp Roberts (CA) with responsibility for providing art therapy to soldiers with mental trauma. An often exhibited painter, she was also a sculptor, woodworker, and photographer. She was an expert in early childhood development and had a unique capacity to make the full range of toys inexpensively out of every-day items. She was a slide librarian for the art history departments at Stanford University and UC Santa Cruz. An early adopter of computer technology in the 60's, she developed the art history slide classification system that is used at most universities around the world. She was a founding member and later president of the Art Libraries Society. She taught Art Appreciation and Art History at San Jose City and Evergreen Colleges for several decades before moving to Rhode Island, and was well loved by her many students.
She was married to SJSU Art History Professor Richard G. Tansey for 51 years until his death in 1998. She was an invaluable part of his authorship of 7 editions of Helen Gardner's "Art Through the Ages."
She has four sons, Professor Michael Tansey of Kansas City, Mark Tansey of Portsmouth RI and NYC, Charles Tansey of Bristol RI and Washington, DC and Professor Joel Tansey of Northampton MA. She has five grandchildren, Sarah, Allegra, Christopher, Michael and Caleb Tansey.

Memorial funeral Home
375 Broadway
Newport, RI 02840

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Jun. 24, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Luraine Tansey

Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.

Not sure what to say?





4 Entries

Michelle Howard

August 22, 2018

Thank you for being my professor at San Jose City College and inspiring me to becoming a professional librarian.

June 25, 2014

You raised extremely intelligent and talented sons. I recall being impressed as a young high school student having deep discussions with Michael - which led me to seek a satisfying career in higher education. Blessings to the Tansey family who shared their appreciate and love for art and culture.

June 24, 2014

I enjoyed many wonderful evenings (and great dinners) at Luraine and Dick's home as a SJS art history seminar student. Luraine hired me in the late 60s to help her with the slide cataloguing project at UCSC and we carpooled over the hill from San Jose for about two years. She was a great teacher and a lovely woman. Sara Campbell Abdo

Spencer Ozawa

June 24, 2014

I met you once with Mark. I remember you as
being really nice to Mark's friends. God Bless you and your family.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results

Make a Donation
in Luraine Tansey's name

Memorial Events
for Luraine Tansey

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. - Newport

375 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840

How to support Luraine's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Luraine Tansey's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sponsored