Joan Wallace Gartland

1941 - 2017

Gartland

Joan Wallace Death of a Poet: Joan Wallace Gartland, 75, passed away on July 5,2017 in Rochester Hills Mi. Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 24,1941. Joan attended Delphi Academy and Barnard College. She graduated with honors, receiving a BA in History in 1963. Joan continued her studies at the University of Chicago and in 1968 received her MA in Egyptology. In 1971 she received an additional MA in Library Science from the University of Michigan. Joan worked as a librarian at the University of Detroit, the Tannahil Research Library in Greenfield Village and Macomb College.In 2007, she retired as the Manager at Bowen Branch Library in Detroit . Joan was very active in Detroit's poetry scene. Her own collection of work titled, A Passionate Distance, was published in1991. She was co-editor of the feminist cultural journal Moving Out from 1978-1998. Joan was also a long time reviewer for Library Journal. She volunteered at Crossroads, taught Hieroglyphics at the WMCA and led free poetry workshops in Detroit. Hailing from Brooklyn and speaking with an English accent, Joan was a delightfully eccentric person with many layers. Although she was a career librarian, she easily broke out of her serious role for any and all social occasions. She livened up the room with her sing song voice, animated worldly discourse and her signature jubilant laugh. Joan was an exceptionally kind and caring person who will be dearly missed. She is survived by four nieces and nephews and several grand nieces and nephews. A 3pm memorial service will be held Sunday, August 6, 2017 at St John's Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI. There will also be a reception to remember Joan and her poetry on Friday, August 11, 2017 from 5pm to 9pm, at Cass Corridor Commons, 4605 Cass Ave, Detroit MI 48201. Memorials may be made to Crossroads of Michigan.