Joan Dunham

1932 - 2017

Joan Dunham (n e Ellis) died peacefully in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on January 11, 2017. She was born in Somers Points, NJ on June 18, 1932 to Charles Ellis and Dorothy Leeds of Ventnor, NJ. Joan was a member of the Atlantic City High School Class of 1950.

In 1954 she married Thomas E. Dunham, Jr. and together they explored the world. They lived in Africa, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium before returning to the United States where they ultimately settled in Newfane, VT. Joan stayed connected to the local art scene as a docent at the Brattleboro Museum of Art and also enjoyed her activities with the Newfane Garden Club. Joan had recently returned to New Jersey to be near her children and grandchildren.

Joan was a true source of energy and inspiration to her family. A smart, beautiful and caring woman, she loved art, design, nature, animals and beauty in its many forms. She had an insatiable curiosity about the world and her surroundings. Her curiosity propelled her into being a life-long consummate student. After her children were grown, she studied art history at Case Western University and Yale University, and owned a Native American art gallery with her husband in Alexandria, VA for a number of years. She was an astute observer and freely shared the beauty she saw in life.

She is predeceased by her husband Thomas Edward (Ted) Dunham, Jr. and survived by her children Karen Leeds Dunham and Dr. Brian Philip Dunham (m. Dr. Wynne Morrison) and granddaughters Ellie Cailin Dunham and Anna Leah Dunham.