Joan S. Gilbert

Gilbert—Joan Stulman. Died peacefully on September 22, 2026,

age 92. Beloved mother of Linda Cooper, Dana Halsted, and

Patricia Novajosky and, through marriage to the late Phil E.

Gilbert, Mary Hyman, John Gilbert, and Clinton Gilbert. Adoring

sister to Stephen L. Stulman.

Born in Brooklyn, educated at Choate-Rosemary Hall and

Connecticut College, where she majored in Philosophy. A life

long volunteer, she devoted time and energy to local community

health organizations and several theatre programs. She

embodied this calling through her professional endeavors, as a

director of public relations at the Lighthouse of Westchester,

executive director for the Westchester branch of the American

Heart Association, and manager of community relations at Texaco

for twenty years. Under her guidance, Texaco was able to

support 80 local non-profit programs and established a number of

community-oriented programs such as Texaco Star Nites; free

Friday nights at the Hudson River Museum Planetarium; free

youth admission to dress rehearsals of the Westchester

Philharmonic; and a yearly fundraiser for the experimental inner

city youth Street Theater known as “Bourbon / Street Theater.”

An avid host, she frequently supported local jazz artists sharing

her love of music with friends and guests alike at her many social

events and parties. After Texaco, she supported many theatre

and jazz organizations; she was a founding member of Jazz

Forum Arts and was a regular fixture at Caramoor Center for

Music and the Arts, Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theatre Club,

Howland Chamber Music Circle, and her beloved Schoolhouse

Theater.

A lifelong enthusiast, she lived a rich and beautiful life, filled with

joy and vitality. She overcame many travails through forethought

and a dedicated and determined spirit. She battled for a place in

an ever-changing world, recognizing the need for clear eyes and

rational thought. A chic bon vivant, she supported and

encouraged all to share in her passion for the arts and travel. She

celebrated those fortunate enough to be in her orbit, enabling and

embracing the paths of those she loved with a ready smile and a

cheer. A champion of family, a patron of the arts, a standard

setter for all that knew her.

Her joie de vivre was most evident when surrounded by her family

and friends, especially during weekly four generation dinners,

birthday celebrations, and sharing her passion for theatre by

attending a show together, be it the local troupe, Broadway, or the

West End. She cherished her rounds of golf, lunches with friends,

discussions of current events, and time with her brother. She

unfailingly marked the big moments and small ones for all those

she loved.

In addition to her children and brother, she is survived by her four

grandchildren Anna Cooper, Kevin Cooper, Ryan McGurk, and

Evan McGurk, and five great-grandchildren, Teddy, Bennett,

Lena, Simone, and Olivia.

The family will be holding a private memorial in her honor.

Memorial contributions can be made in Joan's name to:

Jazz Forum Arts, jazzforumarts.org, in Tarrytown, and The Schoolhouse Theater, theschoolhousetheater.org, in Croton Falls.