Jill Turner

NORTHAMPTON- Jill Turner, 65, died in Northampton on July 29, 2018.

Born in Springfield on July 30, 1952, to William and Nathalie Turner, she attended Springfield public schools, graduated from Holyoke Community in 1978, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1980, and in 1995 received a Master of Arts in Human Relations Development from American International College.

Jill was a lifelong artist, starting as a dancer and actor during her mid-teens, maturing into a singer and guitarist, before merging all her performing skills into the creation of art videos. Her videos were exhibited at the A. P. E. Gallery at Thornes Marketplace, the Anchor House for Artists, and Springfield College. In them she frequently addressed themes of gender fluidity and the loss of self-esteem experienced by older women in a society preoccupied with youth.

In 1972, Jill took part in the formation of the Amherst-based women's rock band Lilith. During this time, Jill experienced her first episode of mental illness, a condition that would afflict her at various points in her life-a fact she never tried to hide. She left Lilith before the band moved to Boston and achieved its greater regional fame. Undeterred, Jill transformed herself into a jazz soloist, appearing throughout the Pioneer Valley as well as in Boston into the 1990s.

Jill also forged a parallel career as a folk musician, and her composition, "Sunglasses in the Shade," was included in Smithsonian Folkways Recordings' Songs from the Pioneer Valley (1987).

In midlife Jill turned to writing fiction, memoirs, dramatic monologues, and poetry. An enthusiastic participant in the Forbes Library Writers Room, Jill found validation in the company of fellow artists and writers. So, too, her political convictions found validation in group efforts, from her guerrilla theatre activity at demonstrations against the Vietnam War during the late 1960s and early 1970s, to joining a "tent city" organized in 2004 by Springfield Arise for Social Justice to draw attention to the crisis of homelessness, all the way to 2011, when she pitched her protest tent one last time in Zuccotti Park, New York City, as part of Occupy Wall Street. Jill never felt more at home than when she was waging political battle.

Predeceased by her parents, Jill is survived by three brothers, Brian Turner of Florence, MA, Guy Turner and his wife Jennifer of Danbury, NC, and Ward Turner and his wife Stacey D'Amico of East Bridgewater. She is also survived by her younger sister Kyle Turner of Los Angeles, California. Although childless, Jill enjoyed playing the loving aunt to her nieces and nephews, all of whom survive her and remember her playful readiness to join their childhood adventures.

A memorial will be held at the Lathrop Home, 215 South Street, Northampton, on Sunday, August 19 at 3 p.m. All are welcome to join Jill's family and the Lathrop residents and staff who cared for her during the time she lived there. The Turners wish to express gratitude to the Lathrop staff as well as to Nancy Palmgren, who served as Jill's trusted advisor for many years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jill's memory to the William and Nathalie Turner Endowed Scholarship, American International College, Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations, 1000 State Street, Springfield, MA, 01109.

The Ahearn Funeral Home is assisting Jill's family with funeral arrangements.

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