Joan L. (Luce) Allen

Joan L. (Luce) Allen,age 93 of Barrington, Rhode Island, only child of Clyde and Frances Luce, died on January 11, 2021 in Barrington, surrounded by her family. Joan’s husband, John (Jack) Richard Allen, died in 2010.

Joan was born in New Rochelle, New York on November 9, 1927 and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida as a young child, graduating from Fort Lauderdale High School in 1945. After high school, she was briefly an art student at Briarcliffe Junior College before enrolling at Rhode Island School of Design to pursue a degree in art. It is at RISD that she met her husband, Jack, who at the time was a student at Brown University. Joan graduated from RISD in 1951 with a Painting BFA, and Joan and Jack were married that same year. After a few years living in Newport, RI and then Cambridge, MA, they settled in Barrington where they raised their family. Joan lived in Barrington for 64 years.

In 1982 Joan returned to RISD to pursue a Ceramics BFA, which she received in 1986.

Joan was a lifelong member of Barrington Congregational Church where she sang in the choir. She was a member of the Barrington YMCA where she often could be seen swimming laps in the pool. She was the long-standing cofounder and director of “Camp Wampatuee” in Freedom, NH where she enjoyed swimming in the river, canoeing, tennis, skiing, reading, painting, drawing, sculpting with clay and time spent with family and friends.

Joan was a lifetime supporter of the arts, including Trinity Repertory Company, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and many other arts organizations. She was a founding member of Anyart Contemporary Art Center in Warren, RI and a member of the Providence Art Club where she held several art shows. Over a period of 30 years, Joan held over 17 art shows at various galleries in Rhode Island, highlighting her paintings and ceramics.

Joan is survived by her son Stephen (Holly) of Buffalo, New York and daughter Margaret, of Bath, Maine. Her son Thomas predeceased her in 2019. She leaves four grandchildren, Read (Kathryn) of Columbus, Ohio, John (Mary Kathryn) of Buffalo, New York, and Peter and Madeleine of Pleasant Hill, California. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Elizabeth, John (Jack) and Wells.

Funeral services and burial will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations in Joan’s name can be made to Rhode Island School of Design at: Division of Institutional Engagement, Rhode Island School of Design, Two College Street, Providence, RI 02903.