JOAN WHITING BRUSH

Joan Whiting Brush, 82, died Thursday, December 23, 2004 after a long illness. Lifelong resident of New Rochelle and Larchmont. Wife of C. Benjamin Brush Jr. who predeceased (July 2001), daughter of Ruth Van Blarcum Whiting and Philip E. Whiting of New Rochelle.

Attended New Rochelle and Town of Mamaroneck Schools, graduated from Rye Country Day School, attended Wheaton College in Massachusetts, and graduated Barnard College 1944 with a B.A. degree in Chemistry. Married Ben (Brush) in 1943 in Lexington, Kentucky where he was stationed with the Army Signal Corps. Upon graduation from college, Joan accepted a position at the American Cyanamid Research and Development Laboratories in Stratford, CT as a chemical analyst. While living in Connecticut, she joined and sang with both the Greenwich and Stamford Choral Societies. Active in community life, she became Executive Secretary of the Camp Fire Girls in 1945 and a member of the Board. Other activities included participating in the boards of Larchmont Planned Parenthood, Co-Chairman of the Larchmont Red Cross Canteen and Disaster Unit, past board member of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Concert Association, supportive volunteer in the 1960s in one of the psychiatric wards at the New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center in White Plains. She was a member of the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound for 48 years. As a member, she was an Assistant Treasurer Provisional Chairman, Co-Chairman of the Sustainer's and past Soundettes Chairman. The Soundettes is a musical therapy group sponsored by the Junior League for over 50 years and is comprised of 12 women's voices in four-part harmony. They perform for nursing home residents, senior citizens and Headstart programs (schools). Joan has sung with this group continuously since 1956.

Her love and devotion to her family has been strong and steady. Her second love, filling her life, has been music. She joined the Westchester Symphony Orchestra Board in 1970, served for 21 years and became an assistant manager of the Orchestra. Joan was a board member and chorus member of the Larchmont Community Chorus which later became the Musiccommuters. The performances were given, accompanied by a 15-piece band for the benefit of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Student Sick Fund. Later in 1989 she joined the Emelin Community Chorus sponsored by the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck.

As a member of the Larchmont Avenue Church since 1947, she joined the Board of Deacon and Trustees and was elected an Elder in 1993. Besides all her community interests, she enjoyed golfing at Winged Foot Country Club for many years with her husband and friends, and was a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club.

She leaves her beloved sons, C. Benjamin Brush III (his wife Lynn), Peter Whiting Brush (his wife Patricia) and four grandchildren Peter W. Jr., Elizabeth, Jennifer and Stephanie, sister Ruth W. Passas of Augusta, Georgia. Another sister Nancy (Whiting) Harding of Georgia and brother Philip Van B. Whiting of California (both predeceased).

A memorial service will be held at the Larchmont Avenue Church, Larchmont, NY on Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Larchmont Avenue Church.

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