ROCKLAND ME – Formerly of NANTUCKET MA – Joan Altreuter, (nèe Joan Popham Hunter), 96, died peacefully on Friday February 25, 2022 in her home at Bartlett Woods in Rockland.
Born January 20, 1926 in Flushing New York to Lytle G. and Margaret (Meigs) Hunter. She attended the Buckley Country Day School in Roslyn (Great Neck), New York, Chatham Hall in Chatham Virginia, and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie New York.
Starting in 1967, Joan taught mathematics, and from 1970 to 1984 she was the Dean at Columbus School for Girls (CSG) in Columbus Ohio. Following her retirement she moved to Nantucket with her friend, Janet Riley Smith to a home they treasured at 5 Academy Lane.
Joan was devoted to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Nantucket and was a regular at the 8 am service, in addition to working there for several years.
With her friends, Nancy Minus, and Louise Wareham, they started the Island Hospice Program, Palliative & Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON).
In her later years, Joan could be found most mornings with a close-knit group in Nancy Swain’s exercise classes at the Salt Marsh, and on Wednesday evenings she rarely missed the Select-Board meetings, as she always had a strong interest in local politics.
Joan loved the Island, marveling at its beauty in all seasons. Over time, she walked virtually the entire shoreline of the island.
In 2019, Joan moved to a retirement community in Rockland Maine to be near her sister, Elizabeth Walker.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, and her daughter Nancy. In addition to her sister, Elizabeth, she is survived by her two daughters, Peggy of Nantucket, and Judith of New York City, and two granddaughters, Sylvia Lara, and Molly Elizabeth, both of New York City.
No services will be held locally, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 20 Fair Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 or online at stpaulschurchnantucket.org/give/ or Palliative & Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON), 57 Prospect Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 or online at pascon.org/donate/